Should you review other writers' books if you are also an author? D.C. and Avery discuss this sticky situation and our feelings on the topic.

What happens if you and your agent part ways, for any reason? In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss the possible circumstances that could lead to an agent break-up, and what the options are in that situation.

Avery and D.C. talk with some special guests about Elixir Writing Retreats! They're joined by Elixir founder Daniel Waldman, author Donna Barba Higuera, and literary agent Allison Remcheck.

Together, they discuss how Elixir Writing Retreats got started, what one of their retreats entails, and also talk about monkey etiquette (it makes sense, we promise!)

• Elixir Writing Retreats Website

Avery and D.C. discuss how they decide which book ideas to pursue, and how to decide if an idea is actually a novel or not.

Avery and D.C. discuss why you need to do research as an author, no matter your genre. We also chat about places to find information and our approaches to research.

Avery and D.C. discuss their experiences at conferences and workshops. They'll go over what to expect, where to find them, and how to get the most out of them, as well as outlining the differences between the two.

Additional Resources:

AWP Writing Conference directory

Virtual Bookish Events Weekly Newsletter, by Sarah N. Fisk

Local and Regional Writers Organizations and Events (USA Only)

Avery and D.C. discuss author sites: what to include, where to build them, and our best tips and tricks. We also discuss using your site metrics while querying, and take a nostalgic walk through web design trends of a bygone era.

Avery and D.C. discuss how to grab a reader's attention with a great opening line and first pages.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

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Drink Recipe:

Gingerbread House Martini

• 1 oz gold rum

1. Optional: Rim coupe glass with crushed graham crackers.

What makes a great title? Avery and D.C. explore the topic using some of our favorites as examples, and share a few tips for how we come up with our own.

Avery and D.C. review a passage from Avery's old writing and discuss their best tips for describing your characters.

Mentioned: Writing the Other

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Drink recipe: Gold-Flecked Eyes Shot

• 1oz Goldschlager

1. Pour Blue Curacao in shot glass