Daggers and Daydreams

In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we’re diving into one of the most emotional and transformative parts of the writing process: feedback. Whether it’s coming from a critique partner, beta reader, or editor—feedback can shape your story, sharpen your craft, and sometimes knock your confidence sideways.

We’re sharing our own experiences with feedback—the best advice that changed everything, the poorly worded notes that derailed us, and what we’ve learned about both giving and receiving critique with honesty and care.

We also explore the emotional side of feedback: how to brace yourself before reading a critique, how to tell the difference between constructive and harmful input, and why learning to give feedback is just as powerful for your growth as receiving it.

If you’ve ever sat there blinking at a comment on your manuscript wondering, Is it too late to quit this whole writing thing?—this one’s for you.

Timestamps:
00:18 – Intro: Why feedback matters
01:00 – Part One: When and why to ask for feedback
07:29 – Solicited vs. unsolicited feedback (and how to tell the difference)
11:30 – How giving critique sharpens your own writing
13:43 – The best feedback we’ve ever received—and why it worked
20:55 – Part Two: How to give feedback without panicking
21:06 – A look at Radical Candour and learning to be honest and kind
22:36 – Preparing to give feedback (and not be a jerk)
31:17 – Our best and worst experiences giving critique
33:12 – Part Three: Receiving feedback without spiralling
33:35 – Prepping yourself emotionally
33:58 – What to do with tough or confusing comments
40:00 – Dealing with reviews and protecting your mindset
43:02 – Outro: Why feedback is worth it—and how to grow from it

Keywords: beginner writing, writing advice, feedback for writers, debut authors, critique partners, editing tips, writer mindset, creative process, writing community, giving feedback

We know feedback can be hard—but we also know it can be one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolkit. This episode is full of honest stories, practical tips, and reminders that you’re not alone.

Got a feedback horror story or golden nugget of advice? DM us on Instagram—we might feature it in a future episode!

Affiliate Links:

Kim Scott - Radical Candor

Stephen King - On Writing

In this special episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we’re joined by fantasy author Danielle Lauren—the creative force behind Spiritchild, Earthchild, and the Fates of Aos series. Known for her incredible worldbuilding and stories full of magic, heart, and elemental balance, Danielle has carved out a space in indie fantasy that’s all her own.

We talk to Danielle about her writing journey—from the first story that sparked something real to the moment she left her job to become a full-time author. This episode dives deep into what it’s actually like to build a writing career from the ground up, with all the beauty, uncertainty, and bold decisions that come with it.

Whether you’re drafting your first novel, dreaming of indie publishing, or simply want to hear from someone who's made the leap, this episode is full of honest insights and inspiring takeaways from one debut author turned full-time storyteller.

Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Meet Danielle Lauren3:24 – Part 1: Discovering storytelling and developing a creative process10:16 – Spiritchild’s origin story and writing a duology16:05 – Leaving a day job to pursue writing full-time18:39 – Part 2: Indie publishing decisions and surprises23:59 – What changed between Danielle’s debut and later books31:24 – Lessons in book marketing and building a readership32:46 – Part 3: Character dinners, screen adaptations, and unexpected feedback38:44 – Advice Danielle would give her pre-publication self40:12 – Outro: Final thoughts and where to find Danielle online

Keywords: beginner writing, debut authors, writing advice, indie publishing, full-time writer, fantasy books, author interview, self-publishing tips, writing motivation, books

If you’re looking for inspiration from someone who’s done the scary, brave thing of turning a story into a career, this conversation is for you. And if you’ve got a question you’d love us to ask future authors, send us a DM on Instagram—we’d love to include your voice in this series.

In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most intimidating parts of the writing process: editing.

When we first started out, we didn’t know what editing meant. We thought it was fixing typos and grammar—but we quickly learned it’s much more than that. From facing tough feedback for the first time to learning how to restructure entire plots, editing has been one of the most challenging (and most rewarding) parts of writing books.

We’re sharing our early editing experiences—the overwhelm, the trial-and-error, the feedback that nearly broke us—and how we eventually found what works. We talk about how our approach has evolved over time, what resources helped us, and how editing has become something we no longer dread (most of the time).

If you’re just starting to revise your first draft or wondering what editing really looks like behind the scenes, this episode is for you. Think of it as the editing chat we wish we’d had when we were starting out.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: What we used to think editing meant01:05 – Part One: Editing as beginners—our first big edits and feedback moments02:22 – What are the different phases of editing03:58 – What totally threw us, and what surprised us16:34 – Part Two: Where we learned how to edit

16:47 – Books, podcasts, and peers that helped21:44 – The feedback that changed everything (in a good way)

23:05 - Lessons learnt working with beta readers26:05 – Part Three: What our editing process looks like now29:36 – Tools, habits, and how we tackle messy drafts31:11 – Outro: Advice to our past selves, and how we stay open to learning

Keywords: editing for beginner writers, revision tips, writing advice, debut authors, how to edit a book, editing feedback, writing motivation, women writers

If you’re revising your first book—or bracing yourself for feedback—this episode is full of real talk and lessons learned. Have questions or stories to share? Send us a DM on Instagram. We’d love to include your voice in our Q&A later this season.

Welcome to Season Two of Daggers & Daydreams — in this episode, we’re going back to the beginning and talking about what it really looked like for us when we started writing.

We know how overwhelming it can feel when you’re trying to write a book for the first time. Plot, character, word count, structure—there’s a lot to juggle, and it’s easy to feel stuck before you’ve even begun. We’re sharing how we approached those early stages, how we shaped our first projects, and the tools we leaned on to keep going.

We also talk about some of the bigger questions that come up: How do you balance what you want to write with what sells? Would we ever change something in a book to make it more marketable? And how has our process shifted as we’ve gained more experience?

This episode is all about our honest, behind-the-scenes experience. We hope it helps you feel less alone and more confident as you take those first steps.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to Season Two 

01:18 – Where we started as writers 

03:51 – Deciding on structure and length

09.47 – How we approach new projects 

14:20 – The tools that help us keep writing 

18:54 – What holds us back—and how we move forward 

20:57 – Balancing creativity and market expectations 

24:38 – How our process has evolved

26:00 – Early writing advice we wish we’d had

27:12 – Outro: Final thoughts and next episode preview

Keywords: beginner writing, writing advice, debut authors, how to start writing a book, writing motivation, creative process, women writers

Have a question you want us to answer in our Q&A episode? Send us a DM on Instagram—we’d love to hear from you @shwriterstudio

Sophie and Helen have talked about their writing processes, their books, publishing and so much more but today they're going to delve into more unorthodox questions. 

Some you’ve probably never considered, but would love to know the answer too, like what’s in their internet search history, scenes they've deleted, or describing their writing like a cooking show.

In this episode Sophie and Helen are going to be diving into the publishing journey. Whether you’re a reader who likes to take a peek under the hood to find out how things work or a writer considering your next step, there’ll be something for everyone. 

They’ll be sharing their experiences of navigating the different elements that take a story from a manuscript to a printed book as well as exploring the worlds of indie and traditional publishing. 

This episode is for our book lovers. We’re going to traipes back through history and have a look at the books we loved, ones that inspired us and what we’re reading now.

After characters, Sophie and Helen dive into what makes a plot, how to raise the stakes and how to create tension.

DISCLAIMER: They talk in detail about examples and spoilers are in this episode from the following books: Divergent, The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing, as well as Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

What makes us love one character yet hate another? In this episode, Sophie and Helen explore their favourite characters and share some of their tips for making your own characters stand out from the crowd.

Romanticising the writer's life is one thing, but what does it actually look like? Sophie and Helen answer this and so much more in this episode.