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In this episode, Elizabeth shares details from an online writing conference she attended focused on publishing. You'll learn about what agents want to see from you when you're considering a traditional publisher. For example, what you should know about pitching your book to an agent, and what will help you catch their attention. You'll also hear tips about writing your query letter. So, if you're curious about traditional publishing, give this episode a listen and get ready for next week when we talk about indie publishing. 

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

We're excited to welcome Ashleigh Sinclaire, author and performer of The Mother Monologues, to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. Ashleigh shares about her journey with her mother, who lived with her during the last years of her life, and how that experience became a gift for her creative process. Through the process of writing The Mother Monologues, Ashleigh discovered a path to healing and she shares this process through her mentoring of women. This episode explores self-care, the possibility of transformation through the creative process, and touches upon inspiration from the mother-daughter dynamic. If you're interested in connecting with Ashleigh Sinclaire, you can do so on her website: themothermonologues.com

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

In this episode, we discuss a common block that writers face wondering what others, especially family and friends, will think when they read their book. Is the memoir too honest?  Is the romance too steamy? What should be taken into consideration when writing your book.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

For the month of February, we selected the book Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver to read for our Read Like a Writer Book Club.

In this episode, we discuss the challenge of not being able to finish the book. We tried to glean insights from the book to apply to our own writing, but we found we were disappointed by the similarity to Dickens' classic David Copperfield.

While the book gained widespread popularity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, we were curious about it receiving this recognition, so you'll hear us touch upon this in this episode. 

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

In this episode, we talk about how in the world you can carve out time to write. We share our own struggles with finding time to write. The resistance that comes from wanting everything to be great the first time words hit the page. Allowing for time to play with your writing and valuing yourself on your writing journey. 

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

Discover the dynamic world of publishing as the hosts share insights from Stephanie's recent attendance at the AWP conference. Exploring the shift from self-publishing to small presses, the Elizabeth and Stephanie discuss the importance of research and finding the right fit for your work.

The episode covers experiences at the conference, where Stephanie engaged with small presses, learned submission preferences, and navigated literary sessions on traditional publishing. The hosts celebrate the journey of querying as a roller coaster, emphasizing the value of learning from rejection.

Technological tools like Scrivener are praised for streamlining the writing and formatting process, while Elizabeth also highlights the strategy of submitting works to literary journals for early exposure and feedback.

Listeners gain practical tips and inspiration for navigating the diverse avenues of publishing, encouraging writers to celebrate their unique journey in bringing their stories to the world.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth shares her experience of starting a non-fiction book through a 30-day writing program. She initially had two ideas, one about financial coaching and the other about finding community after relocating. The prompts guided her in defining the target audience and key message. However, the book ended up with a blend of memoir and self-help, creating a challenge during the editing phase.

Stephanie agrees that quick writing programs might not be suitable for creating high-quality books. She emphasizes the importance of time in the writing process and discusses the struggle with the perception that books should be written quickly. Both hosts stress the significance of a writer's unique voice and the need for quality over speed.

They also share insights into outlining, suggesting structures for different genres like contemporary romance or memoir. Stephanie discusses her shift from non-fiction to contemporary romance and encourages writers to embrace the messy process, emphasizing the importance of consistent writing sessions.

They touch upon the use of mind maps to brainstorm ideas, privacy in the writing process, and the challenge of sharing early writing with others. The episode concludes with a reminder for writers to embrace their chosen identity and pursue their stories with dedication.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

This is the first monthly installment of the Read Like A Writer book club reflections. 

Elizabeth and Stephanie, share their takeaways from genre-specific books they read for the month of January. Stephanie discusses a contemporary romance novel "Yours Truly" by Abby Jimenez. She emphasizes key takeaways related to chapter openings and closings, effective use of dialogue, and the art of showing, not telling. Elizabeth talks about "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle, focusing on the book's structure, particularly the use of vignettes, repetition of sentiments for impact, and a special sentence structure that involves presenting a scene, expressing emotions, and making a strong self-statement in three progressively shorter sentences. 

The discussion touches on how these insights can be applied to memoir and other genres. A Read Like A Writer workbook is also now available for download within the Inspired Writer Collective. Links can be found at the end of the show notes. In February, Elizabeth and Stephanie will be exploring character development and sense of place through Barbara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead". Links below can be used to join the book club only portion of our online community for access to the workbook, on-going chat discussion, and the live Zoom meeting.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

This episode is Part 2 of a multi-week discussion of first chapter dos and don'ts. In this podcast episode, Stephanie and Elizabeth discuss common pitfalls and challenges in writing the first chapter of a book. They emphasize the importance of avoiding an overly slow opening, generic or cliched beginnings, overwritten prose, excessive descriptive detail, backstory or info dumping, a list-like structure, too many characters and places, false beginnings or bait and switch tactics, and shifting points of view. The hosts provide insights and advice on each of these challenges, highlighting the significance of engaging the reader, showing instead of telling, and maintaining consistency with the genre. They caution against manipulating reader expectations and suggest the importance of establishing the author's unique voice in the first chapter. Elizabeth and Stephanie wrap up the discussion with conversation around the merits of a prologue, when it might be necessary, and how a writer will know if they need one or not.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads

Send a text

Join us as we delve into the intricacies of crafting compelling first chapters that hook readers from the start. This is Part 1 of a 2-week series on first chapter challenges. In this episode, we explore the key objectives of the first chapter, from engaging the reader with the story and characters to setting the mood and kickstarting the plot development. We discuss common pitfalls and stylistic aspects, offering insights into evaluating whether your first chapter truly sets the stage for your story. Drawing from personal experiences and literary examples, we examine the importance of posing questions, introducing main characters, and navigating genre-specific expectations. Whether you're starting a new book or revisiting an old manuscript, this episode provides valuable tips for crafting an engaging opening that keeps readers turning the pages. Join us as we unravel the art of crafting captivating first chapters.

 Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing.

Stay until the end of the episode to learn about our Virtual Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. 

Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.

Get on the waitlist for the Memoir Master Plan cohort here.

Apply to join the Finish Your First Draft in 90 Days program here.

If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads