How to Organize Your Writing
Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Freelance Draft, Novel Outline, ER/CB Outline Amy Wilson Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Freelance Draft, Novel Outline, ER/CB Outline Amy Wilson

How to Organize Your Writing

If you’re a beginning writer, you may be wondering how to organize your writing. Working on a novel means you’ll have lots of bits and pieces to keep track of: character and setting notes, plot outlines, reference photos, versions of your manuscript, notes to yourself, quotes and inspiration to keep you going when the going gets tough...yikes!

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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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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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Magic, Mythology & Monsters with Lisa Stringfellow
Writing, Craft, Community, Critique, Market, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Outline Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Community, Critique, Market, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Outline Mary Kole

Magic, Mythology & Monsters with Lisa Stringfellow

Lisa Stringfellow, award-winning author and middle school teacher, discusses her debut novel about mermaids and mythology 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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Retelling (3 Reasons to Reimagine)
Writing, Market, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea Michal Leah Writing, Market, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea Michal Leah

Retelling (3 Reasons to Reimagine)

Is it just me, or does it seem like retellings and reimagined stories are everywhere you look? Whether I’m on the Kindle page or surfing Netflix, it seems like everyone’s telling familiar tales in different ways. Here’s more about this trend and why it matters.

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Writing the Protagonist and Antagonist
Novel Draft, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Outline Amy Wilson Novel Draft, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Editing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Outline Amy Wilson

Writing the Protagonist and Antagonist

One question many writers have when they begin work on a novel is how to write a compelling protagonist and antagonist. These are vital roles to function well in a manuscript. How do we make sure they leap off the page?

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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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Writing Young Adult Books With Mindy McGinnis
Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Writing Young Adult Books With Mindy McGinnis

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

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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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Building Fantasy Worlds with Jonathan Auxier
Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Building Fantasy Worlds with Jonathan Auxier

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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How Long is a Chapter?
Craft, Writing, ER/CB Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Novel Outline, Nonfiction Outline Mary Kole Craft, Writing, ER/CB Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Novel Outline, Nonfiction Outline Mary Kole

How Long is a Chapter?

How long is a chapter? This is a question I get all the time from writers. In this video, I'll ask you some leading questions that will allow you to figure out that ideal chapter count or chapter-length for yourself in your particular project.

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Brighten Even The Foggiest Story Idea
Craft, Critique, Market, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline Joiya Morrison-Efemini Craft, Critique, Market, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline Joiya Morrison-Efemini

Brighten Even The Foggiest Story Idea

Story ideas don’t always come easily, but sometimes we get glimmers that turn into a list of foggy ideas. How do we decide which new idea to run with? And how do we take steps to make it shine?

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Episode 6: Gail Carson Levine, Historical and Fantasy Author
Craft, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission, Nonfiction Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Idea, Memoir Editing, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission Mary Kole Craft, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission, Nonfiction Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Idea, Memoir Editing, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission Mary Kole

Episode 6: Gail Carson Levine, Historical and Fantasy Author

Historical and fantasy author Gail Carson Levine interviews with Mary Kole. She shares thoughts on the writing process, world-building, and her latest book, A Ceiling Made of Eggshells.

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Story Mastermind: Novel Mini-Mastermind
Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Idea, Novel Submission Mary Kole Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Outline, Novel Idea, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Story Mastermind: Novel Mini-Mastermind

Story Mastermind is a five-month small group workshop intensive. The deliverable is a fully workshopped novel draft and submission materials. We’ll give you a taste of how we discuss story in Novel Mastermind: from the premise, the elevator pitch, the logline; to theme, character objective, and stakes.

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