The Merry Writer Podcast

The Merry Writer Podcast

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The Merry Writer Podcast episodes

  • How Can You Develop Your Characters? | Ep. 315 | The Merry Writer Podcast

    EPISODE SHOW NOTES

    We are discussing characters and how to develop them a little deeper.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • Go beyond the basic archetype
    • Beginning, middle and end
    • Use conflict
    • Don't forget side characters
    • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

      WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

      We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

      If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

      If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

      SUPPORT THE PODCAST

      Ko-fi

      You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

      Special Thanks

      Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

      Share

      If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

      CREDITS

      Hosts

      Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

      Music

      Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

      21 min
    • Who Is Sam Weiss? | Ep. 314 | The Merry Writer Podcast

      EPISODE SHOW NOTES

      This week, we’re getting to know Sam Weiss. Sam is a sci-fi horror author who’s been published for over ten years, drawing inspiration from 80s horror films and 90s sci-fi films. Her latest release, In the House of Root and Rot, is available now.

      In this episode, we cover:

      • Sam's writing inspiration
      • Weird book research
      • Her self-publishing journey
      • and more!
      • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

        ABOUT SAM WEISS

        While Sam is terrible at writing “About Me”s about her, she’s been told she’s great at writing about what fictional people do. The more miserable she can make them, the better.

        Her love of horror films from the 80s, sci-fi shows from the 90s, and alternative music from the 00s have inspired her to write what she’s calling “Weird Sci-fi Horror” although she’s kind of making that up as she goes along.

        Website | Instagram | Goodreads | TikTok

        Buy The Stages of Decay

        WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

        We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

        If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

        If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

        SUPPORT THE PODCAST

        Ko-fi

        You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

        Special Thanks

        Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

        Share

        If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

        CREDITS

        Hosts

        Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

        Music

        Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

        47 min
      • When Should You Hire A Professional Editor? | Ep. 313 | The Merry Writer Podcast

        EPISODE SHOW NOTES

        We are back with another editing episode. Today, we are discussing when to hire a professional editor.

        In this episode, we cover:

        • What you need to have done

        • Who needs to see it first

        • Getting over perfectionism

        • and more
        • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

          WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

          We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

          If you would like to be considered, please take a moment to read our FAQs Page.

          If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions.

          SUPPORT THE PODCAST

          Ko-fi

          You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going, and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

          Special Thanks

          Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

          Share

          If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

          CREDITS

          Hosts

          Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

          Music

          Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

          22 min
        • How Can Authors Use Universal Links? | Ep. 312 | The Merry Writer Podcast

          EPISODE SHOW NOTES

          Universal links are an excellent way to tell people where you are and what you do with one click of a button. But not as many people seem to use them often, so we decide to discuss it this week.

          In this episode, we cover:

          • What universal links are
          • What to include in your universal link
          • How you can make universal links
          • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

            WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

            We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

            If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

            If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

            SUPPORT THE PODCAST

            Ko-fi

            You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

            Special Thanks

            Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

            Share

            If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

            CREDITS

            Hosts

            Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

            Music

            Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

            19 min
          • What Do You Need To Know About ISBNs? | Ep. 311 | The Merry Writer Podcast

            EPISODE SHOW NOTES

            Today, we are all about the ISBNs - covering lots of things from pricing to expiry dates.
             
            In this episode, we cover:

            • What is it?
            • Where to get them
            • How many are needed
            • Do they expire
            • Costs
            • Barcodes
            • Resources

              Nielsen ISBN Store

              Bowker ISBN

              ISBN International

              Kindlepreneur (for free barcodes)

              Draft2Digital

              As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

              WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

              We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

              If you would like to be considered, please take a moment to read our FAQs Page.

              If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions.

              SUPPORT THE PODCAST

              Ko-fi

              You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going, and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

              Special Thanks

              Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

              Share

              If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

              CREDITS

              Hosts

              Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

              Music

              Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

              28 min
            • Who Is Jenna Moreci? | Ep. 310 | The Merry Writer Podcast

              EPISODE SHOW NOTES

              Please help us welcome our first guest of 2026, Jenna Moreci! Jenna is a dark fantasy romance author who also runs a successful YouTube channel. The first installment of her dark fantasy romance series, The Savior’s Champion, was voted one of the best books of all time by Book Depository. The latest installment, book three titled The Savior’s Army, is available for pre-order.

              In this episode, we cover:

              • Jenna's writing process
              • Her YouTube channel
              • Her writing journey
              • and more!
              • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

                ABOUT JENNA MORECI

                Jenna Moreci is an award-winning romantasy and writing craft author and YouTube sensation. Her first installment in the Savior’s Series, The Savior’s Champion, was voted one of the Best Books of All Time by Book Depository. Following the release of her first writing craft book, Shut Up and Write the Book, she’s been asked to speak for many literary communities and affiliations about the writing process and romantasy genre, including Robinson College at Cambridge University, the University of Groningen, and the London Screenwriters’ Festival.

                Website | YouTube | Instagram | BookBub | Facebook

                Preorder The Savior's Army

                WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

                We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

                If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

                If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

                SUPPORT THE PODCAST

                Ko-fi

                You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

                Special Thanks

                Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

                Share

                If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

                CREDITS

                Hosts

                Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

                Music

                Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

                52 min
              • How Do You Know When Your Draft Is Complete? | Ep. 309 | The Merry Writer Podcast

                EPISODE SHOW NOTES

                Do you struggle with knowing when to "finish" your writing? Are you stuck in a loop of never-ending edits? Don't worry, you're not alone - we've been there too.

                In this episode, we cover:

                • Getting outside help
                • Acknowledging procrastination
                • Setting deadlines
                • and more
                • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

                  WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

                  We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

                  If you would like to be considered, please take a moment to review our FAQs Page.

                  If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions.

                  SUPPORT THE PODCAST

                  Ko-fi

                  You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going, and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

                  Special Thanks

                  Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

                  Share

                  If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

                  CREDITS

                  Hosts

                  Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

                  Music

                  Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

                  12 min
                • How Can You Effectively Pitch To Book Bloggers? | Ep. 308 | The Merry Writer Podcast

                  EPISODE SHOW NOTES

                  Reviews are precious to an author, but how can you get them? Most casual readers don't leave reviews so you'll have to seek them out. One way to do that is to reach out to book bloggers. This week, we discuss how to pitch your book to them.

                  In this episode, we cover:

                  • What to do before pitching your book
                  • Sending your pitching
                  • After you send the pitch
                  • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

                    WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

                    We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

                    If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

                    If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

                    SUPPORT THE PODCAST

                    Ko-fi

                    You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

                    Special Thanks

                    Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

                    Share

                    If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

                    CREDITS

                    Hosts

                    Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

                    Music

                    Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

                    18 min
                  • How Many Edits Do You Do Before Sending To An Editor? | Ep. 307 | The Merry Writer Podcast

                    EPISODE SHOW NOTES

                    Just how many edit passes do you give your manuscript before sending it off to a professional editor? This is what we are discussing in today's episode!

                    In this episode, we cover:

                    • Ari’s editing process

                    • Rachel’s editing process

                    • Our thoughts

                      As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

                      WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

                      We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

                      If you would like to be considered, please take a moment to read our FAQs Page.

                      If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions.

                      SUPPORT THE PODCAST

                      Ko-fi

                      You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going, and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

                      Special Thanks

                      Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

                      Share

                      If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

                      CREDITS

                      Hosts

                      Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

                      Music

                      Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

                      32 min
                    • Which Writing Craft Books Can Help Boost Your Writing? | Ep. 306 | The Merry Writer Podcast

                      EPISODE SHOW NOTES

                      This week, we discuss some of our favorite writing craft books that help us get through our writing. We touch upon mystery, fantasy, and writing in general, plus the career side of it.

                      In this episode, we cover:

                      • Why writing craft books are useful
                      • Rachel's recs
                      • Ari's recs
                      • Books mentioned:

                        • Howdunit Book of Poisons: A Guide for Writers by Serita Stevens & Anne Bannon
                        • Howdunit Forensics by D.P. Lyle
                        • Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland
                        • The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder by Martin Roth
                        • How to Write a Successful Series by Helen B. Scheuerer
                        • How to Launch a Successful Series by Helen B. Scheuerer
                        • Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer
                        • Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensible Compendium of Myth and Magic by Writers Digest
                        • Writing and Editing Checklists by K.M. Allan (plus the Authoring Checklists companion)
                        • As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content!

                          WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?

                          We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you!

                          If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page.

                          If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time.

                          SUPPORT THE PODCAST

                          Ko-fi

                          You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support.

                          Special Thanks

                          Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie

                          Share

                          If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.

                          CREDITS

                          Hosts

                          Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli

                          Music

                          Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

                          29 min

                        About The Merry Writer Podcast

                        From the publisher's feed

                        Two chatty authors asking all the ’write’ questions.

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