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Writer Craft Podcast

Writer Craft Podcast

By: Valerie Ihsan
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 Welcome to the Writer Craft Podcast, a show about creativity and craft. Remember when you told your sister stories in the night, snuggled under the covers of your waterbed? Or read books from the public library that delighted you? And now you’ve written your own novel. But will it change someone’s life? Is it a good enough book? Does it even work on the story level? On the Writer Craft Podcast, we help authors stay motivated and inspired, finish their books, and show them how to analyze and diagnose areas of challenge in their manuscripts once it's written. Art Economics Leadership Literary History & Criticism Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Anti-Hustle Culture with guest Rachel May and Emily Golden (Ep187)

    Anti-Hustle Culture with guest Rachel May and Emily Golden (Ep187)
    May 14 2025
    Main Topic: Anti-Hustle Culture with guests Rachel May and Emily Golden, book coaches and editors at Golden May Editing, and podcast hosts of the Story Magic podcast. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): revamped website Emily: ARC just came in "Crimson Tide: Up in Molten Lights", 20K in to new book; Rachel: revising third book is slower than planned. (Erick): Preorder up for Shadow Signals , front and back matter done What are you reading? Valerie: How To Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon (Lyn Slater)(Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King), The Autopsy: Best Weird Stories of Michael Shea, (Daniel Clowes) PatienceRachel: Cassie Mint's new book, Wild Peak; the stack is waitingEmily: Assistant to the Villain (Hannah Nicole Maehrer) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: • Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Main Topic): Years ago, in the days before COVID, they met on Twitter through the #WritingCommunity hashtag. As fantasy writers, they immediately hit it off through beta reading each other’s work, which evolved into critique partnering, and then a mutual fascination with writing craft. They became obsessed with learning a) how stories worked, and b) how writers’ mindsets could help or harm their progress. Together they dove head first into book coaching and editing training, which ultimately resulted in Golden May. Please welcome Rachel and Emily. Value is based in what you produce = hustle culture Pitfalls of hunger to create and make an impact on world. Make money, make a lot, make it fast Sustainable success comes from the opposite place Mindset is more important, untangle perfectionism and hustle culture Generational/societal = capitalism ranked over all; "You are only valuable and worthy if you make money." You can't rest because ... If you do more, you make more money. We aren't machines. Burnout. Less effective. Care for yourself so you CAN work. Mindset breeds shame is what drives the hustle culture . Anti-hustle is about separating mindset from the "norm." What did you do to separate and feel worthy? 1. Come down to earth: what are the stakes? Writing is not life/death situation. If I don't ..., then I'm not worthy and I'm gonna die. (Start reframe it) 2. Awareness. Hustle culture. Learn the opposite. (Amy McNee - We Need Your Art) Ask where these thoughts are coming from? Follow the threads. Reparenting inner child. Catch the thoughts in the moment. What's my programming? 1st thought: programming, 2nd thought: what I really believe. Talking to coworkers and family about "letting them down." 3. Join a community interested in anti-hustle. Reframe daily. 4. Devon Price "Laziness Does Not Exist", "Burnout" (Nagaski sisters) 5. Affirmations 6. What is your brain trying to tell you? Rest is a learned thing. The Power of Ritual (Casper ter Kuile) We all rest differently. The tenants of anti-hustle culture: Worth is not tied to our output. Your success isn't determined by someone else's standards. Body and Brain deserve rest. "I don't have time to learn how to rest." Learned how to be productive in your body. tenaciouswriting.com goldenmayediting.com Story magic podcast IG @tenaciouswriting And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Must-Have Elements in Every Nonfiction Book (Ep186)

    Must-Have Elements in Every Nonfiction Book (Ep186)
    May 8 2025

    Main Topic: Elements of a Nonfiction Book (Starts at 16:55)

    Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code

    VALERIE20 at checkout

    You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20

    #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

    PATREON:

    Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

    Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

    Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

    • (Valerie): learning IG Stories from @tidalbaymedia (Kat), updated passport, new Chiro, monthly reflection, carport, now buy print
    • (Erick): Preorder up for Shadow Signals , ARCS out in the morning, back/front matter to write, re-release Witness accounts with new fresh content, experiment with going Wide on the print

    What are you reading?

    • Valerie: How To Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon (Lyn Slater)
    • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
    • Erick:
    • Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King),
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Ep185: Beyond the Hero’s Journey: Exploring the Hidden Arcs in Every Story

    Ep185: Beyond the Hero’s Journey: Exploring the Hidden Arcs in Every Story
    Apr 30 2025

    Main Topic: 3 arcs in every book (begins at 15:31)

    Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code

    VALERIE20 at checkout

    You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20

    #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

    PATREON:

    Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

    Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

    Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

    • (Valerie): writing How to Write a Novel (ask ChatGPT for new title), homework from the business coach, thinking about content creation and refining my book coaching offer; back pain
    • (Erick): Trunk "shopping" for summer work = Witness accounts. Book a retreat for world-building. Preorder up for Shadow Signals (cover from Miblart)

    What are you reading?

    • Valerie: The Stars and Their Light (Olivia Hawker)
    • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
    • Erick:
    • Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King), Somna (gn) (Becky Cloonan)
    • Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):
    • Tidbit #1: • Tidbit #2:

    Segment 3 (Main Topic):

    The Three Narrative Arcs (Bill Kenower)

    The Physical Arc (Story arc, plot, what happens in the book)

    Character/Emotional arc (how the character changes)

    Intentional Arc (Thematic arc)

    Narrative arc (how the story is told)

    If problems with character (flat, 2 dimensional, "Just didn't connect with them"):

    Add inner dialogue for tension and character motivation;

    Make sure your emotional arc is solid. (Character + Flaw + Death of Flaw at end = Character/Emotional Arc)

    And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

    https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

    #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

    Next episode:

    Find Us:

    Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.)

    Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins

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