My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope

By L. PenelopeSociety & Culture Arts Books Personal Journals

My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope episodes

October 23, 2023Creating with Purpose & Planning for the Second Draft
Get on the Footnotes newsletter
Watch on YouTube
Preptober & NaNoWriMo write-ins, Mondays & Wednesdays, 7pm ET.
Get reminder emails: https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano
Mentioned:
Tara McMullin "The Work You Were Born to Do" (paywall) - https://www.whatworks.fyi/p/the-work-you-were-born-to-do
Nalini Singh interview on Fated Mates podcast - https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/10/17/s0606-trailblazer-nalini-singh
Holly Lisle "How to Revise a Novel" - https://hollylisle.com/how-to-revise-a-novel/
My Resources for writers - https://lpenelope.com/resources-for-writers/
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV
My interview with Author Montrez (The Novel Creature Network) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuGQQLwNx40
ZigZag Claybourne Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidiansky/breath-warmth-and-dream-book-one-of-the-khumalo-trilogy
My author newsletter - https://lpenelope.com/newsletter
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
28 min
October 09, 2023Re-working the Writing Schedule
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8OGi3Voyeaw
Become an Imaginary Best Friend! https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes
Plan your NaNoWriMo novel in Preptober with me - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano
Writing schedule calculator - https://thrivingscribes.com/publishing-timeline/
"There are no problems, only puzzles" - https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx_TWKJYuyKSGfkzrhXVCfJVEbaJx9eieZ
NINC - https://ninc.com/
Capclave - https://www.capclave.org/
The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
NPR Tiny Desk Wicked
AI training book checker
Zig Zag Clayborne Kickstarter for Breath, Warmth & Dream

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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
September 25, 2023Prepping for Preptober
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/XI92ZBNSvDg
NINC (Novelists, Inc.)
Maryland Romance Writers - https://marylandromancewriters.com/
Capclave - https://www.capclave.org/
Imaginary Worldbuilding course - https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/courses/imaginary-worldbuilding
Preptober 2023 - prep your NaNoWriMo with me - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano
East City Bookstore, Washington, DC with Ariel Kaplan (hybrid event) Thursday October 5, 2032 - https://eastcitybookshop.com/events/20231005
My events - https://lpenelope.com/calendar/
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - https://bookshop.org/a/582/9780593321201
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
16 min
September 11, 2023Respecting Romance + Story Surgery
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HWjjXkRIO_o
Yale Romance Conference - https://romancefictionconference.yale.edu/
Love Between the Covers documentary - https://www.lovebetweenthecovers.com/
RWA implosion in detail - https://claireryanauthor.com/blog/2019/12/27/the-implosion-of-the-rwa/
The Black Romance Podcast - https://blackromancepodcast.libsyn.com/
Virgil Abloh on perfectionism
My YouTube: https://youtube.com/@leslyepenelope
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
24 min
September 04, 2023Writing Through Difficult Times
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2wDPB6W9q0
"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it." - Eckhart Tolle via InspiringQuotes.com
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
My interview on the Black Writer Therapy podcast -
The Write Women Book Festival
Novelists, Inc. (NINC)
The Muse Writers Center workshops: Building a World Around Your Characters & Plot and Fantasy Worldbuilding
Author websites by me: https://theauthor.digital/
Joy Harris GoFundMe

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
19 min
May 29, 2023Advice to My Younger Self
Watch on YouTube
Become an Imaginary Best Friend to support the show!
Mentioned:
InkersCon
Authortube Writing Conference
ApollyCon - https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/apollycon/
Imaginarium Book Festival
"Advice I would give to baby author me" by Angelina M. Lopez
https://snazzymaps.com/ - custom Google Maps
https://www.wellspent.so/ - App to stop mindless scrolling on social media
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
21 min
May 23, 2023 What’s In Your Circle of Control?
Developing story ideas, novel playlists, and mapping
Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
- Imaginarium Book Festival
- The Story Seed Mini-course
- Footnotes newsletter
- Scribblemaps
- "It's Our World, AI Just "Lives" In It" by Tara McMullin
- Circle of Control graphic
- Fast X
- InkersCon

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
21 min
May 15, 2023Scene Values and Turning Points
Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
Sistah Scifi bookstore
Afrofuturism exhibit at NMAAHC
Our group at the exhibit
Ytasha Womack
Plottr software (affiliate link)
GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
C.S. Lakin courses
Scene Turning Points article
Story by Robert McKee
The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
Genres of writing
Susan Dennard "How to Level Up Your Settings, Part 1"
Queen Charlotte on Netflix
Leap Year movie
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
SciFiTalk podcast with me and narrator Shayna Small
"Heal Chaos and Overwhelm: DECLUTTER Every Part of Your Life"

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
29 min
May 08, 2023My First Week Plotting a New Novel
Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
Savage City on sale for $.99 (limited time)
Calendar I use for my writing calendar
My Resources Page
https://todoist.com/
The Story Seed Workbook Mini-course
Imaginary Worldbuilding: Creating Fictional Worlds for Writers
Save the Cat
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
ChatGPT
Whimsical
OneStopForWriters.com
Michael Hauge character development - The Inner Struggle
Enneagrams
Prioritize Like a Pro free webinar mentioned last week
Freewrite Traveler
Imaginarium Book Festival - May 20 & 21, 2023, Washington, DC
My Events Calendar

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
28 min
May 01, 2023Prioritize Your Projects
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-plK0hBFKig
Mentioned:
Beastly Kingdom is here!
Apollycon
Draft 2 Digital
Scribecount for book sales tracking
Imaginarium Book Festival - May 20-21, 2023, Washington, DC
Imaginary Worldbuilding Course
Autonomous Creative with Jessica Abel
"Why it’s so hard for writers to ask for money for their work" by Mason Currey
Backwater Books "Meet the Romance Writers of Maryland" - Ellicott City, MD - May 4, 2023

The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
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.
20 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.