Episodes
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Stuck Mid-draft? Go Back to Theme
Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/PbG4Rji7ttM Mentioned: Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother film You Can See Everything film Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland Story Theme Kit Worksheets Deepening Your Story’s Theme With the Thematic Square The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a…
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Trusting Your Intuition As A Writer
Watch on YouTube My Upcoming Events The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity…
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Consistency, Authenticity & Going Viral
An accidental Instagram post about The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass went viral (174K+ views and counting), and in this episode I share what happened, what it did for pre-orders, and the surprising "secret sauce" behind it. I also open up about giving my Blitches WIP some space, getting...
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7 Ways To Get Unstuck
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: Get first 3 chapters of The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass! - http://lpen.co/zaharaexcerpt Join the preorder giveaway - https://lpen.co/preorder My Books - https://lpenelope.com/books/ Interview with Shyheim Williams…
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The Fire That Forges You
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/AedkGHaBsVI Book News! Zahara Preorder Campaign is live! - https://lpenelope.com/preorder made list of “Books That Feed an Elder Millennial’s 90s Nostalgia” from SheReads magazine -...
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Knowing What to Keep (and What Not to)
Watch on Youtube Mentioned: lpenelope.com — My new website inkandmagicretreat.com — Apply for the Ink and Magic Mastermind Retreat (Tihs September, outside Baltimore) Angelborn and Angelfall by Leslye Penelope — now with new covers, PREORDER THE FLIP BOOK NOW FROM MY STORE Femforce — brand photo...
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Work Life Balance vs. the Reality of a Finite Existence
Watch on Youtube Mentioned in the podcast: My new book: The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass: https://lpenelope.com/book/the-inevitable-undoing-of-zahara-douglass/ My author Newsletter : https://lpenelope.com/newsletter/ Landlord’s Lamentation (short interactive fiction):...
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What Happens After Agent Feedback (My Revision Process)
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass - coming August 11, 2026 - https://lpenelope.com/book/the-inevitable-undoing-of-zahara-douglass/ Instalove University Virtual Conference - running now! - https://lpen.co/ilu26 "Level Up Your Business with Mindset w/ Heather...
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Live From VirtuousCon
Watch on YouTube Ink & Magic Retreat - https://inkandmagicretreat.com/ The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass - coming August 11, 2026 My interview with Beverly Jenkins VirtuousCon The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating...
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Preparing for Draft 2
Watch on Youtube Mentioned: - Build Your Author Funnel LIVE - Sat. Feb 7, 2026 - The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass - releases August 11, 2026 - Scene Study: Before & After - "The Eternal Library" - Aeon Timeline software - Locally Crafted in Gaithersburg, MD - HBCU grads, please take my...
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New Year, New Challenges
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: Ink & Magic Writing Retreat Applications open until Jan 16, 2026 - https://inkandmagicretreat.com/ EVENT: Me and Nicole Glover - January 15, 2026 - 7pm ET online + in-store at East City Bookshop in DC - Register Read The Starseekers by Nicole Glover Margie Lawson -...
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Writing is Hard, Y'all
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: Ink & Magic Writing Retreat - https://inkandmagicretreat.com/ The Better Writer Podcast with Olivia Bedford Preorder my next book: The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author...
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Novel November: How it Went
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: My reader newsletter: http://lpenelope.com/newsletter Black Friday 2025 Writer Bundle Deal - https://lpen.co/vault25 MYSTERY: FICTION'S FAVORITE FORCE by Junot Diaz - https://junot.substack.com/p/mystery AI scams for writers at Writer Beware Update on those Flattering…
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Writing My Novel's First Draft as a Script
Mentioned: ProWriting Aid Novel November My brother's short film Writer Duet Ines Johnson Ink & Magic podcast How to Write a Movie in 21 Days by Viki King The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing.…
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When Inspiration Strikes
Watch on Youtube Mentioned: - The Bliss Wars Special Edition Omnibus - The Obsidian Curse - releases June 12! - Author Website Audit - A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating...
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10 Lessons From 10 Years of Publishing
Pre-order The Bliss Wars Special Limited Edition Hardcover Omnibus Pre-order The Obsidian Curse https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/ The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and...
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The New Year So Far
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Magic in the Melanin anthology (Hardcover preorder | Kindle: https://amzn.to/42bbxTZ) PENN/Faulkner - https://www.penfaulkner.org/ My Craft Book club Johnny B Truant "We're Entering the Age of the Iconoclast Writer" The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes...
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Planning for 2025
Watch on YouTube My decision matrix video Mentioned: Novel Revision Workshop ClickUp - https://clickup.com/ Todoist - https://todoist.com/ Trello - https://trello.com/ https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net...
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Drafting Woes (Technology Edition)
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVAYHjhD8hk Mentioned: Freewrite writing machines My Freewrite reviews - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33u95y8_hYY&list=PLPWpOldzxmoFtoJMjg6iSUuxU1kDichvn The device I couldn't remember in the podcast - BYOK (Bring Your Own Keyboard):...
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How to Know When You're Ready to Write
Mentioned: A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis - https://amzn.to/4dbeN3D Bookfly Design covers Ink & Magic podcast - https://www.inkandmagic.net/ My Events - https://lpenelope.com/calendar/ The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a behind the scenes look at the journey of a working...
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Imagining Success with Daniel José Older
Today, I speak with New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older. Daniel has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, The World Fantasy Award, the Locus, and the Mythopoeic Award among others and is a winner of the International Latino Book Award. He writes novels for teens and adults, as well…
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Back to the Drawing Board
Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/jp0EkiGHlQ0 Mentioned: Artist Morning - https://www.artistmorning.com/ Story Seed Workbook - https://lpen.co/storyseed Bookbub's 17 Authors on YouTube with Writing & Publishing Tips - https://insights.bookbub.com/authors-youtube-writing-publishing-tips/…
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Imagining Success with Tananarive Due
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. Today, I speak with someone who is one of my personal influences, speculative fiction author Tananarive...
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Creating a Character's Personality
Mentioned: Ink & Magic Writing Retreat: https://inkandmagicretreat.com/ Daughter of the Merciful Deep is out! https://books2read.com/dotmd Imaginarium Book Festival - https://www.imaginariumbookfestival.com/ - The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes -...
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Imagining Success with Dhonielle Clayton
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. In this episode, I speak with New York Times Bestseller Dhonielle Clayton about writing with purpose…
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Building a Story World First
Watch on Youtube Daughter of the Merciful Deep out on June 4, 2024 - Release Giveaway! Launch event @ Sankofa Books My events Launch event @ Sankofa Books in Washington, DC - https://www.sankofa.com/events/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep My events - https://lpenelope.com/calendar/ NPR mention -...
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Imagining Success with Kelley Armstrong
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. In this interview, I speak with #1 New York Times Bestseller Kelley Armstrong about maintaining…
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Five Years of Podcasting! Plus Updates!
Watch the live podcast on YouTube. Mentioned: EF Go Ahead Tours - https://www.goaheadtours.com/tours A few of my photos from Greece - https://www.instagram.com/p/C5orMwfOgpR/ - https://www.instagram.com/p/C5qZl7-OWsO/?img_index=1 Read my post: "Beyond Bestsellers: Yes, People Still Buy Books"…
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Imagining Success with P. Djèlí Clark
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. In this interview, I speak with multi-award winner P. Djèlí Clark about the publishing industry…
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Choosing the Right POV for Your Novel
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/umqeMohkOC0 Mentioned: ARC Giveaway - https://lpenelope.com/2024/03/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep-arc-giveaway/ Daughter of the Merciful Deep - preorder Publishers Weekly starred review Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland Write Your Novel from the Middle by...
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Imagining Success with Beverly Jenkins
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. In this interview, I speak with legendary romance author Beverly Jenkins about the power of...
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Revising the Outline
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: Imaginary Worldbuilding course Zcal Meeting Scheduler - https://zcal.co/ My interview on the Wish I’d Known podcast Washington Post mention! https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/02/11/romantasy-explainer-maas-yarros/ - Gift article link: https://wapo.st/3uJ2YkN...
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Imagining Success with Mary Robinette Kowal
“Imagining Success” is an interview series where I talk to authors who have achieved career milestones that others only dream about and ask them how they got there and where they go from here. In this interview, I speak with award-winning SFF author Mary Robinette Kowal about the meaning of…
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Getting Early Feedback on an Outline
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: How to Revise Your Novel workshop Imaginary Worldbuilding course - https://lpen.co/worlds Story Seed workbook - https://lpen.co/storyseed Enneagrams - https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/types Pro Writing Aid's romance week - https://lpen.co/romanceweek All the...
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Crafting the Villain
Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/DeIidsoalEY - Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes - Savage City is on sale! - https://books2read.com/savagecity - Preordder Daughter of the Merciful Deep - https://lpenelope.com/book/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep/ Mentioned: - Bookbub…
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Starting A New Novel From The Beginning. Again.
Pre-order Daughter of the Merciful Deep – coming June 4, 2024 Pre-order Brutal Fortress – get it from me March 1 and everywhere March 15! Mentioned: Bridgerton Tea photos - https://www.instagram.com/p/C2GS35brisd/ Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/ FaRoFeb (Fantasy Romance February) -...
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Which One Are You Feeding?
Watch on Youtube! - Become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes - Revision Workshop: Monday, January 24, 2024 at 7pm ET - Imaginary Worldbuilding cohort - https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/courses/imaginary-worldbuilding - Pre-order Daughter of the Merciful Deep -...
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The Manuscript Strikes Back!
Watch in YouTube Mentioned: My other podcast! Ink and Magic Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh Pre-order my new book, Daughter of the Merciful Deep My upcoming revision course – https://myimaginaryfriends.net/revision Final Imaginary Worldbuilding course cohort in January –...
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Three Books at Once??
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AMZyTkoOz_s Mentioned: Writers Craft 5.0 bundle deal! Ink and Magic podcast episode 1 is out now! https://inkandmagic.net Pre-order Daughter of the Merciful Deep - https://lpenelope.com/book/daughter-of-the-merciful-deep/ My upcoming revision course -...
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NaNoWriMo update
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: The Faceless Mage by Kenley Davidson My author newsletter: https://lpenelope.com/newsletter/ The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal...
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Conquering Dictation for NaNoWriMo
Watch on YouTube Mentioned: Footnotes newsletter 1:1 Writer Mentorship with me My new podcast! Ink and Magic Jane Friedman The Hot Sheet newsletter My Preptober video playlist & live write-in info My novel revision course waiting list My Nanowrimo novel inspiration cover The Undertaking of Hart…
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Creating with Purpose & Planning for the Second Draft
Get on the Footnotes newsletter Watch on YouTube Preptober & NaNoWriMo write-ins, Mondays & Wednesdays, 7pm ET. Get reminder emails: https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano Mentioned: Tara McMullin "The Work You Were Born to Do" (paywall) - https://www.whatworks.fyi/p/the-work-you-were-born-to-do...
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Re-working the Writing Schedule
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8OGi3Voyeaw Become an Imaginary Best Friend! https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes Plan your NaNoWriMo novel in Preptober with me - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano Writing schedule calculator - https://thrivingscribes.com/publishing-timeline/ "There are…
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Prepping for Preptober
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/XI92ZBNSvDg NINC (Novelists, Inc.) Maryland Romance Writers - https://marylandromancewriters.com/ Capclave - https://www.capclave.org/ Imaginary Worldbuilding course - https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/courses/imaginary-worldbuilding Preptober 2023 - prep…
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Respecting Romance + Story Surgery
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HWjjXkRIO_o Yale Romance Conference - https://romancefictionconference.yale.edu/ Love Between the Covers documentary - https://www.lovebetweenthecovers.com/ RWA implosion in detail - https://claireryanauthor.com/blog/2019/12/27/the-implosion-of-the-rwa/ The…
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Writing Through Difficult Times
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2wDPB6W9q0 "Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it." - Eckhart Tolle via InspiringQuotes.com The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer My interview on the Black Writer Therapy podcast - The Write Women Book Festival Novelists, Inc....
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Advice to My Younger Self
Watch on YouTube Become an Imaginary Best Friend to support the show! Mentioned: InkersCon Authortube Writing Conference ApollyCon - https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/apollycon/ Imaginarium Book Festival "Advice I would give to baby author me" by Angelina M. Lopez https://snazzymaps.com/ - custom...
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What’s In Your Circle of Control?
Developing story ideas, novel playlists, and mapping Watch on Youtube Mentioned: - Imaginarium Book Festival - The Story Seed Mini-course - Footnotes newsletter - Scribblemaps - "It's Our World, AI Just "Lives" In It" by Tara McMullin - Circle of Control graphic - Fast X - InkersCon The My...
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Scene Values and Turning Points
Watch on Youtube Mentioned: Sistah Scifi bookstore Afrofuturism exhibit at NMAAHC Our group at the exhibit Ytasha Womack Plottr software (affiliate link) GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon C.S. Lakin courses Scene Turning Points article Story by Robert McKee The Story Grid by…
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My First Week Plotting a New Novel
Watch on Youtube Mentioned: Savage City on sale for $.99 (limited time) Calendar I use for my writing calendar My Resources Page https://todoist.com/ The Story Seed Workbook Mini-course Imaginary Worldbuilding: Creating Fictional Worlds for Writers Save the Cat Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes...