PODCAST · arts
Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire
by Mindy McGinnis
Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
Episodes
-
Actress & Life Coach Melanie Smith On Moving Past Trauma & The Weight of the Creative
Today's guest is actress and author Melanie Smith, whose book Unfinished Business deals with trauma, grief, heartbreak and loss. Melanie joined me to talk about small and complex traumas, trauma reactions, and the shame that creatives are often made to feel in a capitalistic society. Read the...
-
Maria Riegger with Top Author Tips on Legal Matters
Maria Riegger of Law School Heretic joined me today to talk about the most important legal considerations for new authors, particularly self-published authors. Covered here is copyright - your own, and others - as well as how to protect your personal assets by forming an LLC, and the dangers of...
-
Alexandra Bracken on Death of the Author, and How Family History Inspired Silver in the Bone
Today's guest is Alexandra Bracken author of Silver in the Bone. Alex joined me today to talk about the difficulty of separating the artist from the art, and how a brush with a fascinating piece of family history inspired her newest novel - but took almost ten years to come together. Read the...
-
Natural Beauty Author Ling Ling Huang on Body Horror and Modern Beauty Standards
Today's guest is Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty. Ling Ling joined me today to talk about writing body horror, and how the clean beauty industry leant itself so well to the topic. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook Ad Links: GLOW Hormone Little Miss Recap
-
Nicholas Erik With Top Tips for Indie Author Marketing
Today's guest is Nicholas Erik, a leading marketer and promotion strategist and consultant in the indie publishing world. He joined me today to talk about the one must-have marketing element, what writers can do to gain more exposure, and also debunks some of the myths that still linger (like...
-
Lynn Forney On Choosing Survival, Overcoming Trauma, and Writing About It
Today's guest is Lynn Forney, author of Choosing Survival. Lynn joined me to talk about the brutal knife attack she suffered as a young woman, the pushback from people who didn't believe her story, and how she healed as an adult using different techniques, and ultimately, writing about it. Read…
more -
Vellum Co-Founder On Creating Formatting Software for Indie Authors
Today's guest is Brad Andalman, one of the two founders of Vellum, the formatting software that's making the lives of indie and self-published authors much, much easier. This episode is co-hosted with Kate Karyus Quinn. We talk about Vellum's ease of use, the many new updates, and what's on the...
-
Caroline Kepnes on Loving Joe... Even If You Don’t Want To
Today's guest is Caroline Kepnes, author of the YOU series, which has been adapted into a hit Netflix series. Caroline joined me today to talk about identifying with her main character, writing a series, and how it feels when other works get left behind. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast...
-
Marin McGinnis on Common Mistakes a Copyeditor Can Catch
Today's guest is Marin McGinnis, a romance author who also offers editorial services such as editing, proofreading, and copyediting. Marin joined me to talk about the most common mistakes she sees in manuscripts, especially the ones authors can't spot themselves. Read the Transcript Support the...
-
Laurell K. Hamilton on Writing Real Characters... and Letting Them Have Sex
Today's guest is Laurell K. Hamilton, whose new release, Smolder is the 29th in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Laurell joined me today to talk about keeping her own interest in her characters by allowing them to be real people, and writing sex - some people think it's not enough, some...
-
Lynn Ng Quezon On The Value of Critique Partners and The Anxiety of Author School Visits
Today's guest is Lynn Ng Quezon, author of Mattie and the Machine. Lynn joined me to talk about the extreme usefulness of good critique partners, knowing how much of your research to include in historical fiction, and the pressures of doing author school visits. Read the Transcript Support the...
-
Natasha Preston on The Island: Writing A Large Cast, and the Time Suck of Social Media
Today's guest is Natasha Preston, author of The Island, who joined me today to talk about her electric jump start to success from Wattpad, research, writing a larger cast with her new release, and the time suck of social media in an author's life. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on...
-
Melissa Landers on How Mental Health Impacts Your Writing & The Hit Or Miss of SciFi
Today's guest is Melissa Landers, author of Lumara. Melissa joined me today to talk about a dry spell with no releases, career hiccups, handling mental health while trying to be creative, and the hit or miss of writing the sci-fi genre. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook...
-
Many Little Irons In The Fire - Diversifying Your Writing Income With Beth Revis
Today's guest is NYT Bestselling author Beth Revis, who has made a career in both the YA trad world, self-publishing, serial writing, and through running a successful Patreon. Beth joined me today to talk about the endless hustle of the freelance life, diversification, and endless work - and...
-
Writing For Different Age Groups with Kathryn Holmes
Today's guest is Kathryn Holmes, who has written, YA, MG and chapter books. Kathryn joined me to talk about the difference in writing for these age categories, the payout for shorter books, submission slumps, and co-authoring. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook Kathryn's...
-
Indie Publishing Success with Alex Lidell
Today's guest is Alex Lidell, who began her career in traditional YA publishing, and switched paths (and genres), moving on to become a successful indie romance author. Alex joined me today to talk about the different aspects of finding success in the indie world, particularly when it comes to...
-
Louise Kennedy on Coming to Writing Later in Life & Short Form vs. Long Form
Today's guest is Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses. Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, a shattering novel about a young woman caught between allegiance to community and a dangerous passion. Louise joined me to talk about how her own life informed the novel. Also covered: Coming to...
-
Jenn Bouchard on Debuting in the Pandemic, Short Stories and How to use Little Free Libraries For Marketing
Today's guest is Jenn Bouchard, author of First Course. Jenn joined me today to talk about working full time while writing, pursuing the short story marketplace to build a platform, and how to use Little Free Libraries as part of your marketing plan. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow...
-
Isabel Sterling on Changing Agents, Writer Burnout, and Avoiding Shame
Today's guest is Isabel Sterling, author of The Coldest Touch and host of the Author Burnout Coach Podcast. Isabel joined me today to talk about her path to publication, changing agents, writing under a pen name, how to know you're in burnout, and what to do about it. Read the Transcript Support...
-
Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson on Co-Authoring, Writing Mysteries, and Plotting vs. Pantsing
Today's guests are Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson, co-author's of The Agatha's. Kathleen and Liz joined me today to talk about secret projects, writing for the joy of it, co-authoring, and plotting a mystery while still leaving room for flexibility. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow...
-
Mary Robinette Kowal On Writing Disabilities & Book Marketing Outside of the Box
Today's guest is Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Spare Man, the Lady Astronaut series and historical fantasy novels, The Glamourist Histories series and Ghost Talkers. Mary Robinette joined me today to talk about what to do when your book marketing plan falls apart, how to pivot in promo...
-
Non-Fiction Writer Stacy Ennis On Writing to Make Money
Today's guest is Stacy Ennis, a number-one best-selling author and book coach, as well as founder of Nonfiction Book School. Stacy joined me today to talk about how being a writer doesn't necessarily mean you have to follow the path of a starving artist, how to merge the fear of selling out with...
-
Jessi Honard & Marie Parks on Co-Authoring, Pacing a Fantasy, and Responsibly Writing A Diverse Cast
Today's guest are Jessi Honard and Marie Parks, co-authors of Unrelenting, a fantasy novel that is paced like a thriller, and features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters. The authors joined me today to talk about bringing a business mindset to the publishing journey, writing inclusively, and the...
-
NYT Bestseller Karen McManus On Pacing In Murder Mysteries & Bowing Out of Social Media
Today's guest is Karen McManus, NYT Bestselling author of multiple YA murder mysteries, including her newest release, Nothing More to Tell. Karen joined me to talk about pacing, plot and motive in murder mysteries, as well as knowing when social media isn't helping you anymore. Read the…
more -
David Crow On Keeping Memoir Honest, Even When It’s Ugly
Today's guest is David Crow, author The Pale-Faced Lie, the story of his childhood with a violent felon as a father, and a mentally ill mother. David joined me today to talk about catharsis, forgiving yourself, and keeping your writing honest, even when it's painful. Read the Transcript Support…
more -
Lorie Langdon On The Long Haul & Hard Grind of A Writing Career
Today's guest is Lorie Langdon, author of the Happily Never After series from Disney. Lorie joined me today to talk about ups and downs of a career, finding non-traditional routes to income, and how social media creates the illusion of success... even when it's not true. Read the Transcript…
more -
Dr. Tara T. Green On Black Women As Activists, Performers, and Women With Desires
Today's guest is Dr. Tara T. Green author of Love, Activism, and the Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar-Nelson as well as See Me Naked: Black Women Defining Pleasure During the Interwar Era. Dr. Green joined me today to talk about black women throughout history, both known and unknown, who brought...
-
Tetyana Denford On Writing The Child of Ukraine and Talent vs. Timing
Today's guest is Tatanya Denford, author of The Child of Ukraine, a fictional narrative based on a long-kept family secret. Tatanya originally self published her book, only to find traditional publishing came calling when the marketability of the narrative skyrocketed. Read the Transcript Support...
-
Tess Gerritsen On Writing A Series & Pleasing Your Fans... Or Not
Today's guest is the internationally best-selling author Tess Gerrtisen whose 13th book in the Rizzoli & Isles Series, Listen to Me, releases this month. Tess joined me today to talk about writing such a beloved series for so long, keeping the characters real, and the balance between writing the...
-
Jamie Lyn Smith On Writing Appalachia & Short Stories
Today's guest is Jamie Lyn Smith, author of Township, a collection of short stories set in Appalachia. Jamie joined me today to talk about writing literature of place, the art of the short story, and ways to make money on your short fiction. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on...
-
Angela Engel On Knowing Your Options For Publishing -And Your Why?
Today's guest is Angela Engel, who launched the The Collective Book Studio, which provides authors with a middle ground between the benefits of self-publishing and the art of the well-crafted book. Angela joined me today to talk about what authors should know about partner publishing, and how to…
more -
Katie Henry On Writing Humor During the Pandemic
Today's guest is Katie Henry, whose most recent release is Gideon Green in Black and White. Katie joined me today to talk about career hopping from being a playwright to a novelist, jumping genres from contemporary humor to mystery, and why writing funny is so important - now, and always. Read…
more -
R.S. Mellette, Matt Sinclair & Elephant’s Bookshelf Press on Indie Authoring & Publishing
Today's guests are R.S. Mellette, author of Kiya & The Morian Treasure, as well as his publisher Matt Sinclair, founder and CEO of Elephant's Bookshelf Press. They joined me today to talk about what works in indie publishing versus trad in terms of marketing and publicity, as well as the function...
-
MarcyKate Connolly On The Differences Between Promoting Middle Grade & Young Adult
Today's guest is MarcyKate Connolly, author of numerous MG and YA books. MarcyKate joined me today to talk about the importance of finding a writer's critique group, the different ways to promote middle grade versus Young adult, and the difficulties of launching four books during the pandemic.…
more -
Fred Koehler On Experience, Inspiration and the Outdoors
Today's guest is Fred Koehler, author, illustrator and founder of Ready Chapter 1, a program to help writers start their creative journey. Fred joined me today to talk about the importance of having active experiences to inspire storytelling, the pros (and cons) of determination, and the effects…
more -
Dan Koboldt on Putting the Science in Fiction & Putting the Fact in Fantasy
Dan Koboldt joined me today to talk about two wonderful resources for writers - Putting the Science in Fiction & Putting the Fact in Fantasy - both of which edited. Originally published to help genre writers, these collections are a great addition to any writer's shelf, covering topics as broad…
more -
Kindlepreneur Creator Dave Chesson on Covers, Mailing Lists & Going Wide... Or Not
Today's guest is Dave Chesson, creator of Kindlepreneur, which is dedicated to helping authors build their writing and careers from the ground up, from writing to editing, to cover creation. Dave joined me today to talk about the most important aspects of self-publishing - covers, mailing lists,...
-
Erika Robuck on the Enduring Stories of Women in World War II
Erika Robuck joined me today to talk about her novel Sisters of Night and Fog, how World War 2 continues to be a fertile place for novels, especially as the stories of women resistors and spies become more well known, through the declassification of documents. Also covered - researching for...
-
Bethany C. Morrow on the Social Horror Genre & The Importance of Nuance In Audiobooks
Today's guest is Bethany C. Morrow, author Cherish Farrah. Bethany joined me today to talk about the rising genre of social horror, the importance of nuance and performance in an audiobook, unreliable narrators, and those of us who operate within the social contract... as well as those of us who...
-
Farah Jasmine Griffin On Race and Politics & How Literature Illuminates Both
Farah Jasmine Griffin joined me today to talk about her new book from WW Norton, Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature. Also covered - the importance of education, freedom of political thought, book banning and the impact of literature on those whose voices…
more -
Lauren Kate On Writing Within The Publishing Industry & Meeting Your Heroes
Today's guest is Lauren Kate, author of By Any Other Name, a rom-com set within the publishing industry. Lauren joined me to talk about meeting your heroes, writing about writing, and how - and when - to separate the art from the author. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook...
-
Lisa Gardner On Cold Cases & Public Land Disappearances
Today's guest is Lisa Gardner, author of One Step Too Far. Lisa joined me today to talk about lives lived on the fringes, cold case investigators, the power of listening, canine search and rescue helpers... and Bigfoot. Read the Transcript Support the Podcast Follow on Facebook Lisa's Links: Site...
-
Discover A New Age of Exploration & Storytelling With Hidden Compass
Today's guests are Sabine K. Bergmann and Sivani Babu, the founders of Hidden Compass, which is a women-founded media company based on the idea that the age of discovery is not over, exploration - and long form media - are not dead, and that readers deserve more than bite-size junk food media.…
more -
Deanna Raybourn On Mistaken Perceptions of the Victorian Age
Today's guest is Deanna Raybourn, author of the Veronica Speedwell mystery series. Deanna joined me today to talk about misconceptions about the Victorian - specifically regarding sex and women - as well as writing historical fiction and how closely to adhere to facts. Read the Transcript Support...
-
Nova McBee On Getting A Film Deal First & Having An Editorial Agent
Today's guest is Nova McBee, author of Calculated. Nova joined me today to talk about her backwards publishing journey - from film rights, to audio, to the book deal - as well as the necessity of growing a thick skin, and why she enjoys having a heavily editorial agent. Read the Transcript…
more -
Tavi Taylor Black On Fame Culture & Writing At Any Age
Today's guest is Tavi Taylor Black, author ofWhere Are We Tomorrow? a story of four women working backstage on a rock tour. Tavi joined me today to talk about being a woman in a male-dominated space, the toxic nature of our addiction to fame, writing at any age, and writing despite obstacles.…
more -
Amazon Bestselling Author JK Ellem On Knowing Your Strengths & Limitations
Today's guest is JK Ellem, author of the Amazon bestseller Mill Point Road. Jack joined me to day to talk about treating your indie publishing career as a lean, mean startup, focusing on your strengths, and treating your book as a product, and knowing what pieces to snap off - audio, foreign...
-
Elizabeth George On Keeping It Fresh for Twenty-One Books
Today's guest is Elizabeth George, author of the Thomas Lynley mystery series, recently publishing the 21st book, Something to Hide. Elizabeth joined me to day to talk about keeping a character interesting for both readers and herself since 1988, choosing how to manage the passage of time within...
-
Janet Sternburg on Hindsight & Tackling Hard Family Truths In Writing
Today's guest is Janet Sternburg, a writer of memoir, essays, poetry and plays, as well as a fine-art photographer. Her books include two memoirs, White Matter: A Memoir of Family & Medicine and Phantom Limb: A Meditation on Memory, as well as the classic two volumes of The Writer on Her Work....
-
Literary Agent Lucinda Halpern On Common Query Mistakes
Today's guest is Lucinda Halpern of Lucinda Literary, whose strong background in marketing and broad media and film relationships enable us the firm to be strategists and advocates not just for books, but for the long-term careers of their authors. Lucinda joined me to talk about common query...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire have?
Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire currently has 200 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire about?
Writers talk craft, agent hunt, query trenches, publishing industry, and more. Hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
How often does Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire release new episodes?
Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire publishes regularly with 200 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire?
You can listen to Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire 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 Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire?
Writer, Writer, Pants On Fire is created and hosted by Mindy McGinnis.
URL copied to clipboard!