In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Matt McMann about his TWO debut books in the Monsterious Series: ESCAPE FROM GRIMSTONE MANOR and THE SNATCHER OF RAVEN HOLLOW. Other topics discussed: having a spouse who is also in the business, not rationing your ideas when writing a series, writing several books in a series in a tight publishing schedule, figuring out where to draw the line in scary content for kids, the pros and cons of writing an anthology-style series, the difficulty in naming characters, and more!

BONUS: Matt is giving away 2 copies of ESCAPE FROM GRIMSTONE MANOR - listen for details on how to enter to win.

Check out Matt’s wife Lisa McMann’s Episode #33 - Guest: Lisa McMann - The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Slayers (buzzsprout.com) 

R.L. Stine’s Masterclass - https://www.masterclass.com/classes/rl-stine-teaches-writing-for-young-audiences

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In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Amalie Howard about her Regency Historical YA, QUEEN BEE, as well as creating historicals with a more representative cast of characters, writing linearly, knowing you can always edit later, using a playlist to get you in the mood for a particular project, the rare but awesome moment of being recognized as an author, and so much more. 

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In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with F.T. Lukens about their contemporary YA fantasy, SPELL BOUND. Also discussed: finding the hilarity in the mundane, humor as a coping mechanism, using favorite tropes and putting your own spin on them, identifying character motivations, writing romance as part of a larger plot, and more. 

 Find the Happy Writer and Marissa Meyer Merch here:

https://thehappywriter.creator-spring.com/

https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-happy-writer 

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Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this episode, Marissa chats with Maurene Goo about her latest YA time-travel, THROWBACK. Also discussed: how writing is both a labor of love and an actual job, how to create boundaries, take breaks, and keep from burning out, managing writing and parenthood, immersing yourself in past culture and the shock of viewing it through modern eyes, and so much more!

The Do-It-Yourself Escape Room Book:  https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781510758803 

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Jenna Voris about her debut YA sci-fi, MADE OF STARS, as well as writing not one, but two romances, creating complex government systems that serve the story and feed the action, the difficulty of writing heists and figuring out what details to include, on becoming an outliner but still creating excitement in the writing, the challenge of cutting unnecessary scenes, and so much more!

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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa and Joanne take a fun trip down memory lane, celebrating their favorite moments from the past 3 years and 149 episodes! Also, they announce an exciting giveaway, but you’ll have to listen to find out what it is. Join them as they discuss their most memorable writing craft takeaways – some that have influenced their own writing – as well as some light bulb moments, life-changing perspectives on the writing life, inspiring quotes, and so much more. 

 Craft books we mentioned: 

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron

Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book? By Ally Carter

The entry form we talked about: https://forms.gle/ahHMrvu9xaJWsuVk6

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Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Zeba Shahnaz about her debut YA fantasy, MIDNIGHT STRIKES, as well as struggling to finish projects and how to keep from getting distracted, doing several rounds of edits even before querying, complicated magic systems and worldbuilding in a time-loop, being able to trust yourself, putting in the work, keeping the joy in the writing, and so much more. 

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Daniel Nayeri about his new book, THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR THE SELLER OF DREAMS and his twisty road to becoming a published author that included working in publishing, considering being a spy, skydiving, and actually becoming a pastry chef.
 
Topics also discussed: explaining unfamiliar terms to the reader without breaking character, bringing setting to life using the five senses, giving characters something to do in a scene and how it naturally creates worldbuilding, how tiny details (as basic as pockets!) can elude your research, publishing the thing you’ll forever be proud of, and so much more.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Brittney Morris about her latest action adventure YA novel, THE JUMP, as well as how setting can be its own character, using Google Street View to get details correct when you can’t physically be there to do research, writing scavenger hunt puzzles, tackling multiple first person points of view, using sensitivity readers, addressing big questions through writing, and more! 

The Seattle Pinball Museum: https://www.seattlepinballmuseum.com/

About the Cicada Puzzle https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/10/cicada-3301-i-tried-the-hardest-puzzle-on-the-internet-and-failed-spectacularly 

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Lyssa Mia Smith about her debut, the Moulin Rouge-inspired YA romantic historical fantasy, REVELLE, as well some of the research behind the pursuit of happiness and enjoying the writing process, deliberate practice, worldbuilding, prioritizing writing and dealing with guilt, and much more!

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool
The Happy Writer Listener Survey  - https://forms.gle/NWpEBUEGjUmCJHJJ6

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/