PODCAST · arts
Bright & Ambitious
by Kailey Bright
Join YA Fantasy novelist Kailey Bright as she unveils the writing and publishing journey. From typing away an original story on her sister's desktop, to a failed first publication, to rising above imposter syndrome--Kailey showcases the difficulties and triumphs when writing and publishing a novel. Often in conversation with other authors, both first-time and seasoned creators can gain insights into writing tips, publishing tricks, and what it truly means to be in the writing industry.Brew some tea, gather around the imaginary fire, and let's chat. Don't forget to stay ambitious!
Episodes
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What it Means to be a Writing Mentor - Bright & Ambitious Episode 18
This writing podcast has always hosted tons of advice that YA fantasy author Kailey Bright has learned while on her personal writing journey, but this episode is the culmination of an entire year’s worth of one-on-one mentorship. Join Kailey and her author mentee, Natalie Gale, for a discussion...
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How to Make a Hit Series on Social Media - Bright & Ambitious Episode 17
Shownotes: Every author dreams of having their books in store shelves across the country, but some have made that dream a full-on life mission. Romantasy author Whitney McGruder has archived her adventrures on social media as she works to visit every single independent bookstore in the states of...
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How “Graceless Heart” Perfected the “Big Reveal” - Bright & Ambitous Episode 16
Many authors try to surprise their readers with big reveals and plot twists, but oftentimes they feel underwhelming, predictable, and even frustrating. When indie author Kailey Bright read Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez though, she was surprised at how much the twists and turns impacted her…
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A Professional DM’s Guide to Worldbuilding - Bright & Ambitious Episode 15
Whether you’re an aspiring author, or planning your next Dungeons & Dragons campaign, worldbuilding is often one of the first and most difficult challenges to overcome. But with years of playing table-top RPG’s for a living comes with the advantage of wisdom and insight. In this episode of the...
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What “Heathers: The Musical” Proves About Editing & Revising
When writer Daniel Waters and director Michael Lehmann released their teen black comedy "Heathers" into the theaters in 1989, they were likely hoping for critical and financial success, and a devoted fanbase for their work. What they likely weren't expecting was for others to find inspiration in...
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Why Authors Need Newsletters - Bright & Ambitious Episode 13
With so many social media options, authors may be tempted on skipping out on a newsletter. But as it turns out, newsletters are actually one of the most important resources indie authors have. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks with Rachel A. Greco (author of The Firebird...
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Making Your Sci-Fi World Feel Alive - Bright & Ambitious Episode 12
When you’re building a whole new world from scratch, it’s easy to get lost in all of the small details. But when your characters are literally inhuman, how do you make sure they are still relatable to your readers? In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks with Sophia L. Hansen,...
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I Interviewed My Favorite Authors at YALLfest 2025
YALLfest 2025 may be over, but we’re still not over the experience! In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, indie author Kailey Bright shares her experience of the two-day extravaganza, as well as the exclusive mini-interviews she recorded with authors like Marissa Meyer, Victoria Aveyard, Rebecca...
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How to Write (Actually) Scary Stories - Bright & Ambitious Episode 10
Some scary movies use jump scares as a cheap trick to get a startle out of you, but if you’re writing a horror novel, you don’t get the same luxury. How do you make your writing actually scary, and why would you want to in the first place? In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright…
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Why Sensitivity Readers Are So Important - Bright & Ambitious Episode 9
We’ve all heard the advice “write what you know,” but what happens when you want to tell a story about a character with different life experience than your own? How do you make a diverse story, and how can you make sure you do so well? In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks…
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Does Your Story REALLY Need Beta Readers? - Bright & Ambitious Episode 8
After you’ve already completed multiple drafts of your story, it can be tempting to skip out on what can feel like an unnecessary step. But beta reading can be one of the most important steps in the entire publishing process. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks with E.H....
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Book Publishing 101 - Bright & Ambitious Episode 7
View the Presentation Here. Every writer dreams of having their book on store shelves, but it can be intimidating to try to figure out the path to publishing alone. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, YA author Kailey Bright explains the differences between traditional publishing houses and…
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Committing to Your Bold Decisions - Bright & Ambitious Episode 6
From choosing a target audience to picking out your book cover, being an author requires a lot of bold, difficult choices. How do you know you’ve made the right decision? In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks to fellow self-published author Rebecca Garner about writing for an...
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How to Finish Your First Draft - Bright & Ambitious Episode 5
Completing a first draft can be a difficult process, but it’s not impossible. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks to aspiring author Arielle Wilder about how she’s kept herself accountable as she completes her first draft, what she’s learned about character development, and...
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How to Commit to a Story - Bright & Ambitious Episode 4
For many writers, coming up with story ideas isn’t the hard part; it’s figuring out which one to actually write. In this episode, indie author Kailey Bright catches up with producer Joel Seymour about her writing goals for 2025, the challenges she’s faced along the way, and how she’s able to…
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The Road to Traditional Publishing - Bright and Ambitious Episode 3
Publishing your next novel traditionally takes a lot of work, connections, and most of all time. In this episode of Bright and Ambitious, indie author Kailey Bright talks with Moriah Chavis (author of Heart of the Sea) about how to network with publishers, what tools you need to query your books...
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How to make time to write - Bright & Ambitious Episode 2
Finding time to write is hard, but it’s possible if you know how to do it. Poet, artist, and short story author Amber Mulinax gives advice on how to keep up with your creative passions while balancing a busy schedule. She also shares a warning to new writers who may be miss out on their…
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Writing and publishing your book in 2025 - Bright & Ambitious Episode 1
After publishing the final installment of her debut trilogy, Kailey Bright (author of “The UN Series”) returns to the microphone. In this first episode of Bright and Ambitious, Kailey and her husband Joel discuss how to set realistic writing goals in 2025 as well Kailey’s personal hopes for the…
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #8: Catherine Downen Interview
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Apr 18, 2022. In conversation with Catherine Downen (@authorcatherinedownen), we discuss her new portal fantasy duology "Ending in Cadence", self-publishing tips, and how to succeed in a...
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #7: Author Spotlight + Poetry
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Nov 30, 2021. “I'm joined by Lauryn Fenwick (@ldaishaneli) as she discusses her poetry roots, how she writes poetry, and her advice to all poets out there!” Links: The Un Series…
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #6: How to plan a trilogy
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Nov 23, 2021. “I'm joined by Catherine Downen, the #1 Best Selling author of the Markings trilogy as we discuss how she wrote her books! You can find out more about Downen and her books…
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #5: Publishing in Magazines
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Nov 9, 2021. I'm joined by Angelina Vita, the head editor for New Voices, Lander University's literary magazine. We learn about the inner workings of the editorial process, how to…
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #4: Writing is HARD
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Nov 2, 2021. “Professional Writing major, President of the English Club, and recently published author Amber Ballenger joins me as we chat about writing hardships, overcoming those...
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #3: Reading my fan-fiction
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Oct 12, 2021. “I'm joined by Joel Seymour again and fellow friend Isaac Cook from the LU's Writing Center. We laugh as we read an excerpt from my first book ever--a Teenage Mutant Ninja...
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #2: Killing men makes your story stronger
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Oct 5, 2021. “I'm joined by Senior Mass Comm major, podcaster, animator, and photographer Joel Seymour as we discuss the revision process, tips for killing your darlings, and recognizing...
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RADIO SERIES ARCHIVE #1: House of Avlis to UNFORTUNATE
This Episode is an archive of the Bright and Ambitious radio segment, originally airing on XLR Lander Radio on Sep 28, 2021. “In our very first episode, XLR Lander University "2POC" co-host Mei Scott joins me as we chat about the evolution of UNFORTUNATE--a YA fantasy story 5 years in the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join YA Fantasy novelist Kailey Bright as she unveils the writing and publishing journey. From typing away an original story on her sister's desktop, to a failed first publication, to rising above imposter syndrome--Kailey showcases the difficulties and triumphs when writing and publishing a novel. Often in conversation with other authors, both first-time and seasoned creators can gain insights into writing tips, publishing tricks, and what it truly means to be in the writing industry.Brew some tea, gather around the imaginary fire, and let's chat. Don't forget to stay ambitious!
HOSTED BY
Kailey Bright
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bright & Ambitious have?
Bright & Ambitious currently has 26 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bright & Ambitious about?
Join YA Fantasy novelist Kailey Bright as she unveils the writing and publishing journey. From typing away an original story on her sister's desktop, to a failed first publication, to rising above imposter syndrome--Kailey showcases the difficulties and triumphs when writing and publishing a novel....
How often does Bright & Ambitious release new episodes?
Bright & Ambitious has 26 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bright & Ambitious?
You can listen to Bright & Ambitious on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bright & Ambitious?
Bright & Ambitious is created and hosted by Kailey Bright.
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