My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope

By L. PenelopeSociety & Culture Arts Books Personal Journals

My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope episodes

May 20, 2019014: Plotting with Character & Theme
An overview of my first week plotting book 4 in my fantasy series.
This week’s best thing: Plotting! Perhaps my favorite part of the writing process.
Mentions:
Michael Hauge character development - This article is what started it all for me in terms of understanding this method for creating inner conflict: http://blog.janicehardy.com/2012/08/the-inner-struggle-guides-for-using.html
Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke - https://amzn.to/2JMZTX0
Creating Character Arcs by KM Weiland - https://amzn.to/2LVOp6t
The Negative Trait Thesaurus - with Reverse Character Backstory tool - https://amzn.to/2YJmyIj
Dan Wells 7 Point Plot Structure - https://hunterswritings.com/2016/09/16/7-point-story-structure-resources/
Save the Cat Beat Sheet - https://jamigold.com/2012/02/how-to-use-the-save-the-cat-beat-sheet/
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin - https://amzn.to/2EuRDrx

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope

Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure:
I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
26 min
May 13, 2019013: Terrifying & Fun
Starting a brand new book… no, I’m not scared at all.

This week’s best thing: Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling

Links:
Namesake by Kate Stradling
Project Management Software
Smartsheet
Trello
Notion
Calendar templates
Write, Better, Faster course
George RR Martin on endings
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland
positive, negative & flat character arcs!
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast

Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope

Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

Affiliate Disclosure
I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
26 min
May 06, 2019012: Practically Perfect in Every Way?
I have turned in my manuscript (let us all rejoice!) and muse on my ongoing struggle with perfectionism.

This week’s best thing: Publishers Weekly starred review of Whispers of Shadow & Flame

Links:
Awario.com and Mention.com - for tracking online mentions
AppSumo - deals on techies things
VONA/Voices workshop for writers of color
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Shadow Warrior by Ann Aguirre
Heinlein's rules for writing success
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast

Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope

Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

Affiliate Disclosure
I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
25 min
April 29, 2019 011: Choose Your Own Adventure
Thoughts on publishing paths: indie and traditional. Also, inspiring honesty in writing and life.
THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Avengers: Endgame(!!!)
MENTIONS:
- Angelina Lopez blog post
- Indie Author Central (IAC) on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letztalkbooks/
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

18 min
April 22, 2019010: Creating Characters w/ Paul James
This week I have a special guest: actor Paul James (aka my brother). Known for Greek, The Last Ship, and The Path, Paul shares his perspective on creating characters by bringing a writer’s words to life.
This week’s best thing: my birthday! + Game of Thrones!
Links:
The Hot Sheet – https://hotsheetpub.com/
Ran Walker, 2019 Indie Author of the Year – https://indieauthorproject.com/2019-indie-author-of-the-year-award/
Kboards – https://www.kboards.com/
The Passive Voice – https://www.thepassivevoice.com/
The Sell More Books Show – http://sellmorebooksshow.com
Paul James on IMDB
GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Deb Dixon

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure
I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
31 min
April 15, 2019 009: Suffering is optional
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - Haruki Murakami
THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: I got to see Audra McDonald perform live! (She could be every week's best thing!) https://audramcdonald.com/
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT:
- Sending my April newsletter
- What to write next?
- Working on chapter epigraphs for CRY OF METAL & BONE
LINKS:
- Fonda Lee Twitter quiz: https://twitter.com/FondaJLee/status/1115051419134877696
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
23 min
April 08, 2019 008: Seeing the Scene — Revision & QA Testing
How novel revision and software development are basically the same thing. This week I enter the last(ish) stage of my revision, discuss the many uses of index cards, character verbs, and try not to let thoughts of piracy derail me.
This week's best thing: I finished the final proofing of WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME! Hoorah!
Mentions:
- Verbalize by Damon Suede - https://amzn.to/2ORE0qa
- The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne - https://amzn.to/2Um01DB
- Write Your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell - https://amzn.to/2I3ndQd
- Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland - https://amzn.to/2UkBv5u
- Author Rachel Caine on piracy

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: http://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure:
I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
26 min
April 01, 2019007: Doing Your Work
"The function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work." — Toni Morrison
Writing updates, quarterly planning, and my thoughts on recent events in the romance writing world.
This Week's Best Thing: WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME Advanced Reader Copies are here!!
Other Mentions:
Robin Covington, romance author
Mindlogr - private video diaries

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
26 min
March 25, 2019006: The Gods Must Be Tired
On managing decision fatigue and why high output (writing all the things!) requires high input (aka my excuse for binge reading).
This Week's Best Thing: The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas
Also Mentioned:
Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
Robin LaFevers IG Post on Decision Fatigue - https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKP68fHj8w/
- Check out her books! http://www.robinlafevers.com/
Neil Gaiman on Neil Armstrong and Imposter Syndrome

Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
23 min
March 18, 2019 005: What's in a Name?
This week I talk writerly intuition and do some research to come up with character names.
This week's best thing: Trailers Galore!
- Aladdin trailer
- Avengers:Endgame
- Bel-Air
The Writer's Well podcast: http://thewriterswell.org
Article on the Sami Concept of Time: http://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/anthro/concept-time.htm
Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

Show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
24 min

About My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope

From the publisher's feed

Award-winning fantasy & paranormal romance author Leslye Penelope shares perspectives on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week’s best thing.