Chapter twenty-nine of Literary Blend is a special and vulnerable one. I’m so glad Heather Kays joined me on the show to talk about healing through writing. We had a very open conversation about the healing power of writing, from fictionalizing past trauma to turning to our craft as a way to escape. I truly hope you love listening to our conversation and that it brings you comfort and reminds you you’re not alone.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

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Thank you for flipping the page to chapter twenty-eight. This is an important one with Ciara Smith about diversity in publishing. From talking about the publishing business and querying to diverse representation in books, we covered it all. I can’t thank Ciara enough for joining me on the show to tackle this topic, and I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into diversity in publishing.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Okay, cover your eyes. Hey, don’t peek! Fine, you can peek. I’m beyond excited to share chapter twenty-seven of Literary Blend with Stephanie Henson on a peek into picture books. We talked about the picture book market, specific PB elements, working with an illustrator, and much more. It was a true delight having Stephanie on the show for such an insightful conversation, so I hope you learn lots about picture books.

If you would like to check out Stephanie’s work, head over to her website: https://stephanie-henson.weebly.com/

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Do you write short stories? If so, have you ever considered creating a collection? I’m delighted to share my insightful conversation with Michael Goodwin Hilton for chapter twenty-six of the show on crafting a short story collection. Michael’s debut short story collection, What the Statue Thinks, was published by Wild Ink Publishing, so he has first-hand experience with this topic. From discussing the process of choosing the stories for a collection to tips for ordering them to take readers on a journey, we covered it all. I learned so much during our chat, so I hope you do as well.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Here we go, friends. We have reached chapter twenty-five of Literary Blend with Carey Blankenship-Kramer about writing for the middle grade audience. Whether you write for this age category or are simply interested in gaining industry knowledge, this conversation is for you. Carey and I covered tips for writing middle grade and things to avoid, the difference between lower MG and upper MG, word count expectations for this age category, writing a stand-alone vs a series, and so much more. Also, Carey unveiled the details about her upcoming middle grade horror debut, Ghost Scouts Honor. I loved having Carey on the show, so I hope our chat gives you a glimpse into writing for the middle grade audience.

If you would like to stay up to date with all Carey is up to, head over to her website: https://www.careyblankenshipkramer.com/

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Okay, friends, it’s time to get deep into craft, but don’t worry, this isn’t English class. Christine Goss and I sat down to cover line level writing in a super entertaining way for chapter twenty-four of the show. Whether you are drafting or revising, being aware of certain things on the line level can really elevate your writing and make it immersive for readers. I can’t thank Christine enough for joining me to tackle this topic. There are tons of gems in our conversation, so get ready to take mental notes or even grab a pen and paper to jot down the key points you learn.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Is your story plot driven? Is it character driven? What if it’s a secret third thing and both plot and character driven? I’m delighted to share chapter twenty-three of Literary Blend with Bethany Hensel on braiding plot and character. From covering how plot and characterization work together to breaking down the ways a character’s beliefs, values, surface pain, and deep pain are woven with the plot, Bethany and I hope our conversation gives you the tools to strengthen your story through braiding plot and character. Whether you are a plotter, pantser, or something in between, this chapter shines a spotlight on insights and techniques that fit all writing styles.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Hey, you. Yes, you. If you’re a plotter, put your hand up! If you’re not, that’s perfectly okay, because you’ll get a chance to learn about this writing style. I’m delighted Megan Davidhizar joined me for chapter twenty-two to cover the plotter approach to writing. We talked about techniques for plotting a novel, the pros and cons of this approach, asking ourselves why we made the choices we did while working on our stories, and much more. I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into how plotters approach writing, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll give plotting a shot if you haven’t before.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Here we go, friends, it’s time to talk about revising our stories. My best friend, Jessica Lee Minneci, and I sat down for chapter twenty-one to give you a glimpse into revision. We chatted about why revision is an essential part of the writing process, receiving and applying feedback, our revision tips and tricks, and much more. Oh, and we briefly touched on the mysterious power water has to help when we’re stuck. Whether you love revising or the thought of it makes you cringe, this conversation is for you, since every writer edits their work. I hope my chat with Jessica gives you insight into this stage of the writing process and ideas for how you can tackle revisions for your own stories.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Woohoo, we have made it to chapter twenty of the show, and what a wonderful one it is! I’m beyond delighted Arianna Siddiqui joined me for a highly entertaining and insightful conversation about staying organized as an author. From deadlines and boundaries to writing schedules and more, Arianna and I cover it all. Also, prepare yourself for lots of laughs along the way. I hope our conversation provides you with the tips and tricks you need to become more organized as you chase your publishing dreams.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you.

Show Email: [email protected]

Website: http://demimschwartz.com

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!