PODCAST · arts
The Writing Forge
by Writing Heights Writers Association
Welcome to The Writing Forge, where we discuss tips and tricks for honing your writing craft. Each episode, a guest will join hosts Miranda and Bonnie to hammer out the skills a writer needs to succeed in the writing world. We cover a variety of topics—from the idea phase through publication and beyond—to help you no matter where you are on your writing journey. We believe every writer has something to share to help us all learn and grow!
Episodes
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Hiding in the Ivory Tower: Imposter Syndrome in Academia
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome Dr. Pamela D. Williams for an updated discussion on imposter syndrome, this time specifically on academic writing. The transition from student to independent scholar often leaves writers feeling unqualified, even in the midst of earning credentials. Dr. Williams…
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Getting Crafty: A Look at Craft Books
In this episode, Miranda and Bonnie dive into the value of books on writing craft, focusing on learning about the art of writing versus the act of writing itself. Your co-hosts reflect on their experiences with various craft books, exploring what separates the truly helpful ones from those that...
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The Publishing Debutante: Lessons in Traditional Publishing
Debut author Kristin Owens shares tips and tricks from her journey as a first-time author. After a brief rundown on the differences between traditional and self-publishing, our hosts discuss the importance of knowing your own strengths and goals. For those with time and patience, the traditional...
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Staying True: Authenticity, Joy, and Holding on to Your Voice
Amber Byers, founder of the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, joins Bonnie and Miranda to explore the themes of authenticity and joy in writing. Finding and maintaining your voice amidst external pressures and criticism can be difficult, particularly in the pursuit of writing. And yet, it…
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Fairy Tale Foundations: The Power of Classic Stories in Any Genre
Bonnie and Miranda welcome Amy Trent for a discussion on the timeless allure of fairy tales. Elements of fairy tales can enhance writing in any genre, from themes and motifs to character development and beyond. The conversation emphasizes the significance of happily ever afters, the challenge of...
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Chef's Kiss: Making Books Lovable
In this episode of The Writing Forge, hosts Bonnie and Miranda focus on the positive, celebrating elements in books that elevate their reading experience. Small physical touches can make a huge difference, like consistent heights that avoid the frustration of mismatched series and detailed maps…
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Speaking Volumes: Writing Natural and Distinct Dialogue
In this episode, hosts Bonnie and Miranda delve into the intricacies of crafting natural and distinct dialogue with guest Jordan Taper, a writer and director of audio dramas and audiobooks. Good dialogue is crucial for writing an enjoyable narrative, and a variety of techniques can help…
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Ditching the Day Job: Transitioning to Full-Time Writing
Many writers dream of ditching the day job and writing full-time. Author and speaker Andrew Buckley joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss his journey to full-time creativity and provide tips and tricks for thriving when writing becomes your 9-to-5. From diversifying income streams to outsourcing to...
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How to Make Your Editor Love You
In this episode, Miranda poses the question “Bonnie, what would make you absolutely love a potential client?” Together they delve into the many ways authors can impress potential editors and agents. Tips and tricks include understanding different levels of editing, leveraging alpha and beta...
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Dreams to Dollars: Successful Crowdfunding for Authors
In the modern era of Kickstarter and Backerkit, crowdfunding has become a viable option for self-published authors to access the funds needed to publish their work. Experienced crowdfunder Jason Brick joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss why crowdfund, as well as lay out strategies for successful...
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Choose Your Own Adventures: Using Story Structure
Plottr creator Cameron Sutter joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss their favorite story structures and how to effectively use them. Whether you’re a planner or a pantser, understanding the elements of structure is crucial to crafting a compelling narrative. A solid grounding in a variety of...
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All Greek to Me: Alpha and Beta Readers
Bonnie and Miranda delve into the roles of beta and alpha readers in the writing process. While alphas and betas perform somewhat different functions, establishing clear expectations with both is key to the early reading process. Ultimately, emotional reactions are some of the most useful…
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Sense-ability: Immersing Readers Via the Five Senses
Sensory details are crucial to immersing readers in a story. In both fiction and narrative nonfiction, different senses establish the setting, evoke emotions, and deepen characterizations. In today’s episode, author Ritu Anand joins Bonnie and Miranda to explore how to balance the senses in your...
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Cultural Exchange
The landscape of fiction in the United States has been morphing over the last twenty years, due in part to the translation and influence of TV shows, movies, books, and comics from other countries and cultures. Guest Katie Lewis along with hosts Bonnie and Miranda discuss their experiences…
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DNF: Bookish Pet Peeves
Got any writing pet peeves? Miranda and Bonnie take advantage of the opportunity to rant about some things that have made them put books down (or throw them across the room), discussing the pitfalls of playing tricks on readers, being unnecessarily coy, and making characters behave inconsistently...
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Point of Who? Writing for multiple POVs
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome guest Trina Burgermeister to discuss the intricacies of writing from multiple points of view (POVs). Trina shares insights from her own writing journey, highlighting the challenges and rewards of weaving together distinct character perspectives. The conversation...
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The Necessity of Reinvention
Bonnie and Miranda talk with Tracy Hume about reinventing yourself to get your writing career off the ground. The trio explores the ever-evolving landscape of the writing industry, discussing platforms like webinars, conferences, and social media for staying informed. The conversation sheds light...
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Anti-Resolutions
Happy New Year, and welcome to Season 3 of The Writing Forge, listeners. Returning guest David E. Sharp joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about anti-resolutions. Embrace your personal weaknesses for yourself and your characters this year to give your story a punch, to achieve some character...
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Lessons from The Lost City
The end of 2023 is upon us! In their traditional end-of-year season finale, Miranda and Bonnie analyze the movie The Lost City. Comparing a fictional portrayal of an author with real-life writer experience provides plenty of fodder for discussion. Your hosts explore the movie’s unique take on...
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Conflict, Choice, and Consequence
In this episode, hosts Bonnie and Miranda welcome special guest Valerie Ihsan to discuss the critical elements of conflict, choice, and consequence in storytelling. The conversation delves into the importance of conflict in hooking readers, the significance of character flaws, and how conflict...
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Shaping Stories: The Role of Developmental Editing
In this episode of the Writing Forge podcast, Kelly Lydick of Pure Carbon Publishing joins Bonnie and Miranda to delve into the world of editing. The trio unravels the distinctions between developmental and other kinds of editing, shedding light on the nuanced roles each plays in the writing...
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Ink of the Night: Exploring the Subconscious Creative Process
Hosts Bonnie and Miranda and guest Beth Bonness delve into the fascinating connection between dreams and poetry. Beth's unique perspective of rediscovering her passion for poetry after experiencing life-altering strokes sheds light on how dreams and the subconscious mind can influence the…
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Harnessing AI for Social Media Magic
Join hosts Bonnie and Miranda and guest Sonja Dewing, an award-winning author and CEO of the Women's Thriller Writers Association, as they delve into the world of AI and its applications in the realm of social media marketing. Amidst a discussion on the limitations and possibilities of AI, they...
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Anthology Deep Dive
Bonnie and Miranda use their experiences as anthology judges, editor, and author to share valuable insights and tips for writers looking to submit their work to anthologies. From uncovering niche opportunities to avoiding common mistakes to crafting standout submissions, they share invaluable…
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The Community that Stays Together, Writes Together
Uncover the keys to building and sustaining a thriving writing community in the Writing Forge’s very first live episode! Writing Heights Writers Association director Amy Rivers and Northern Colorado Writers founder Kerrie Flanagan join Bonnie and Miranda for an important conversation on the...
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Where it All Began: Exploring Character Backstory
Explore character backstory on this episode of The Writing Forge! YA author Traci L. Jones joins Bonnie and Miranda for a look at how backstory adds depth and authenticity to your characters. They share strategies for using dialogue to reveal character history organically, integrating flashbacks…
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From Headlines to Novels: Switching Genres
Join Bonnie and Miranda for a thought-provoking episode on the art of switching genres in your writing career. Drawing from John Dedakis's experience pivoting from seasoned journalist to novelist, the conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of venturing into new creative territories....
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Well Versed: Learning About Novels in Verse
Poetry and story mix beautifully to make a novel in verse—an increasingly popular form of writing. Miranda and Bonnie learn more from Megan E. Freeman, author of middle-grade novel-in-verse Alone, about what makes a novel in verse, the freedom it can provide, its relatability across different...
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Beyond the Villain: Writing Compelling Antagonists
*cue evil laughter* While most of us love a good villain, antagonists can be so much more. Parents, best friends, even the protagonist themselves can make some of the most compelling antagonists. Kat Falls joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss how to develop well-rounded, multidimensional...
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Working for You: Tips on Organization and Motivation
Whether you’re officially a freelancer or just trying to get writing done in your free time, we all need to find what works to keep us motivated and organized. Long-time freelance writer Holly Day joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about their favorite tools for staying organized and tricks for...
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Navigating the Rainforest: Amazon’s Author Central
Marketing expert Penny Sansevieri joins Bonnie and Miranda as their guide through the jungle that is Amazon Author Central. Authors often underestimate the importance of an updated Amazon Author page, and Penny gives us best practices for picking book categories, utilizing the author page, and...
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Doling out Emotions: Pacing in Fiction
In this Bonnie and Miranda solo episode, your co-hosts break down pacing from the micro level to the macro. Small things like individual word choice and sentence length can impel your readers forward or slow them down to get them thinking. Pacing at both the micro and macro level can help give…
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Elements of Storytelling
Librarian and storyteller David Sharpe joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss the elements of storytelling that translate across different media. From oral storytelling to theater to novels, emotional connection draws listeners and readers into the story for a more engaging experience. Switching…
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Publishing your Life: Memoirs of the Not-Yet-Famous
Writing down stories from your life can be great for therapy or family history purposes. But you might also be thinking about publishing these stories. This is where memoir comes in. Awyn Dawn, author of Paganism for Prisoners, joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about publishing memoir—finding your...
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Ay ay ay, AI
Miranda and Bonnie jump on board the AI-discussion bandwagon with screenwriter Alan O’Hashi to theorize how the future of writing will change with improvements in AI technology. Is using AI in your writing comparable to using a calculator in math class? Will ChatGPT become the next tool like...
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Look Both Ways Before Crossing Genres
Today we talk about the nitty gritty of genres and how to cross them. Whether you want to write paranormal romance or your fantasy novel has an unexpected dash of horror, you may find that one genre is not enough to contain your story. Sarah Reichert joins Bonnie and Miranda to discuss the pros…
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What’s on the Inside Counts: Book Design
Though everyone knows a book needs a good cover, writers often overlook the importance of a well-designed book interior. Book designer Tamara Cribley lends her expertise to a discussion on the nitty gritty details of interior book design: from choosing (and licensing) fonts, formatting ebooks,...
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Showing or Telling?
Bonnie and Miranda discuss their takes on the infamous writing advice, “Show, don’t tell.” They explore the advice from an editor’s perspective as well as a writer’s, give some examples of showing and telling, and discuss when you would want to use one or the other. So, what do you think about...
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Don’t Get Bogged Down - Details in Worldbuilding
Whether your story is set in a fantasy world or downtown Cleveland, scenic details are important—but how do you avoid getting caught up in the minutiae? Today, Steve Stratton joins Miranda to talk balancing worldbuilding details with story, in a variety of genres. Facebook: @writingheights...
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Outsourcing for Authors
In today’s episode, Bonnie and Miranda chat with Leah Busboom about outsourcing for authors. They discuss what self-published authors can or should outsource; some best practices for collaborating with other publishing professionals; and how to balance budget, time, skillset, and enjoyment levels...
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Romance: Genre vs. B-Plot
Prolific romance author and publisher Bernadette Marie brings her experience with the genre to help Miranda and Bonnie nail down the differences between Romance as a genre and romance as a B-plot in a greater story. Along the way, they’ll talk about the different aspects of romance from the...
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Write-Life Balance
Erin Austin, teacher and author of The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Original World Language Resources, talks with Bonnie and Miranda about how to find time and motivation for your writing while balancing all other aspects of your life. Facebook: @writingheights Instagram: @writingheights Join…
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Write What You Are: Leveraging Your Life to Strengthen Your Writing
Dr. Melanie Peffer, author of Biology Everywhere, joins Bonnie and Miranda for this episode’s discussion of the old adage “Write what you know.” Whatever their day job is, any writer can utilize their day-to-day experiences to inspire and strengthen their writing. Facebook: @writingheights...
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Goal Setting for Writers
Bonnie and Miranda welcome in Season 2 of the show by discussing goal setting for writers. It’s important to define what your goal as a writer is, and we discuss four broad paths you can take to define what kind of writer you want to be. Thanks for listening, we can't wait for the amazing guests...
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Lessons from "The Man Who Invented Christmas"
On this holiday special of The Writing Forge, Bonnie and Miranda get in the Christmas spirit by discussing the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. Though the movie is a historical fiction take on Charles Dickens writing A Christmas Carol, it has a lot of relevance to modern writers. We cover a...
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Comedic Sans: Tips for Humor Writing
Humor writer Julie Vick joins us this week to talk about all things funny. Tips and Tricks: Surprise is a key element for writing humor. Play up the unexpected. The rule of three is part of this. If you’re going to be satirizing someone directly, make sure not to “punch down.” You don’t having to...
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Copyright Misconceptions
Lawyer, author, and publisher Thea Rademacher, of Flint Hills Publishing, joins Bonnie and Miranda to talk about common copyright misconceptions writers have as well as ways to protect and strengthen your copyright. Tips and Tricks: As soon as you’ve written something original, you own the...
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Subgenres vs. Tropes
Amanda Headlee joins Miranda and Bonnie to discuss subgenres and tropes—their similarities, differences, and how you can utilize either to strengthen your writing. Tips and Tricks: Properly identifying your subgenre can be important for marketing and successful sales. Sometimes a trope becomes...
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Spooky, Scary Serials
In this twofold Halloween episode Miranda and Bonnie talk with Steve Anderson about how to write for Kindle Vella as well as how to write spooky stories. This week’s question: Have you tried out Kindle Vella? Let us know of any stories you’ve liked and link them at our socials! Tips and Tricks:...
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National Novel Writing Month
Today Miranda and Bonnie are talking with Stina Branson about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short). This week’s question: Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? If you have, or are signing up this year, drop your username in our socials—we’d love to be NaNo buddies with you!…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to The Writing Forge, where we discuss tips and tricks for honing your writing craft. Each episode, a guest will join hosts Miranda and Bonnie to hammer out the skills a writer needs to succeed in the writing world. We cover a variety of topics—from the idea phase through publication and beyond—to help you no matter where you are on your writing journey. We believe every writer has something to share to help us all learn and grow!
HOSTED BY
Writing Heights Writers Association
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Writing Forge have?
The Writing Forge currently has 64 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Writing Forge about?
Welcome to The Writing Forge, where we discuss tips and tricks for honing your writing craft. Each episode, a guest will join hosts Miranda and Bonnie to hammer out the skills a writer needs to succeed in the writing world. We cover a variety of topics—from the idea phase through publication and...
How often does The Writing Forge release new episodes?
The Writing Forge has 64 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Writing Forge?
You can listen to The Writing Forge 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 The Writing Forge?
The Writing Forge is created and hosted by Writing Heights Writers Association.
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