Main Topic: Using Tropes to Avoid Writer's Block

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.

Announcements:

• PNW inspired horror [email protected]; Submissions closed.
• Garden Home Community Library Writers Series "Self Publishing Success" June 25 gardenhomelibrary.org
• 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat
• Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now.
• Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series)
• Exploring Imagery in Creative Nonfiction
• Black Springs Saga Book 1 out now (it's the prequel) 99 cents

Author Update:

Erick:

• launched new book series (Black Springs Saga)
• Valerie:
• new class good (planning on repurposing the content)

• I'm reading:

• Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin
• Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe

Erick:

• The Manitou by Graham Masterton

Notes:

Use the tropes to get started.

The obligatory scenes are already outlined for you.

You can definitely make it your own. It's not cheating.

Read in your genre. Understand the tropes in your genre. (Deconstruct books you love so you can learn to write that way. Read: The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black.

Make an Id List to discover your favorite tropes.

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Writer Craft Facebook Group

Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com

Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com

Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account

Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com

Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n

Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com

Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Resources:

"How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog

Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group)

3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page)

Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions)

Raven Publicity (publicity for authors)

The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror

Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website.

Contact Valerie for author coaching.

Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign

Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.

Balance meditation app.

• Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode.
• Three Story Method worksheet

Book Recs for writing/creativity/business:

Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles

• Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker
• Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX
• Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron
• Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon
• The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black
• Slow Productivity by Cal Newport