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If you’ve been toying with the idea of writing a memoir — or you’re knee-deep in draft pages wondering what now? — you’re going to love this conversation with memoir coach and author Wendy Dale.

Wendy’s the author of Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and the creator of The Memoir Engineering System, a structured seven-step process for turning your life stories into page-turning memoirs. 

She’s also been a memoir coach for 17 years and has read more than a thousand memoirs along the way — so when she says she’s seen it all, she means it.

We kicked off our chat with the age-old memoir question: what stays in and what gets cut? Wendy shares that the biggest mistake new memoirists make is treating their book like an autobiography — including everything — rather than crafting a story with a clear premise. 

Whether you’re writing about a time in your life, a specific relationship, or a transformational journey, you need to know what your memoir is about before you start writing.

And then comes the kicker: structure. Wendy opens up about how her first memoir attempt got a big fat “no” from agents because — as one of them told her — she had no idea how structure worked. That rejection became the catalyst for developing her Memoir Engineering System. 

According to Wendy, structure is the foundation of a memoir — just like a well-built house. Readers might not notice it when it’s working, but if your structure’s missing? No one’s sticking around to admire your prose.

We also talked about plot, and how “what actually happened” isn’t the same as a compelling story. Memoirists need to shape their real-life events into a sequence that builds tension and invites readers to turn the page. 

That includes identifying the conflict at the heart of your book — what Wendy calls the “narrative want” — and writing scenes where something happens, even if it’s just an emotional realization.

Wendy also offers some brilliant insight into the power of subjective writing — how your thoughts, reflections, and unique perspective are what breathe emotion into your scenes and allow readers to truly feel your story.

We even tackled the tricky question of whether you can write part of a memoir in third person. Wendy’s take? It’s risky and rarely works well — unless you’re a phenomenal writer and handle it with nuance and restraint.

If you’re working on a memoir — or have a dusty manuscript sitting in a drawer — you’ll want to check out Wendy’s free video series at freememoirclass.com, and of course, grab a copy of The Memoir Engineering System.

This episode is full of insight, warmth, and practical tools to help you move from messy draft to compelling memoir. Don’t miss it!

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Hey there, Writer—welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show!

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of short fiction with the wonderful Pamela Gwyn Kripke. If you’ve ever been curious about writing short stories, how to build a collection, or what publishing with a small press actually looks like—this conversation is for you.

Pamela is an award-winning writer with bylines in The New York Times, Elle, Seventeen, Newsweek and more. Her debut novel At The Seams was published by Open Books in 2023 and her brand-new short story collection And Then You Apply Ice is also out now. (Yes, you can find links to both in the show notes!)

She joined me to chat about how she moved from journalism and essays into short fiction—something she only began exploring about four years ago. She found that many of her essays had a narrative quality to them, and that natural storytelling instinct drew her into writing fiction. She leaned into the short form during the pandemic and quickly found a rhythm that worked for her. 

Pamela shares how she pulled together her stories by focusing on recurring themes—especially around the idea of transgression—and how some of the characters appear across stories at different points in their lives.

We also talked about her decision to publish with a small press and what that process actually looked like. (Spoiler: she sent queries to about 25 publishers!) Her approach was smart and strategic—targeting presses that aligned with her voice and genre. 

Pamela also pitched both her novel and story collection at the same time and found a supportive home with Open Books. She opens up about the differences between traditional publishing and her long-time experience freelancing for magazines, and the pros and cons of working with a smaller press—including the realities of doing your own book publicity.

You’ll love Pamela’s grounded and generous wisdom about the writing life. She talks about her daily writing routine (dog walks included!), how she transitions between essays, journalism, and fiction, and how being a working writer has taught her not to wait for the muse—but to get in the chair and do the work.

And of course, I had to ask her what it means to be a resilient writer. Her answer was beautiful—it's about maintaining emotional equilibrium and trusting that you’ve done your best, no matter the outcome.

This episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and encouragement—especially if you’re navigating the ups and downs of publishing or wondering where short stories might fit into your own creative path.

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Hey there, Writer—this week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re diving into something so many of us wrestle with: how to get that first draft down… faster. And more importantly—without all the agony.

I’m joined by Daphne Gray-Grant, who brings a lifetime of experience to the writing process. She grew up in her family’s newspaper business, later worked as a senior editor at The Vancouver Sun, and somewhere in the middle of all that, gave birth to triplets! If anyone understands writing under pressure, it’s Daphne.

In this episode, Daphne shares how she went from struggling with writer’s block to developing powerful tools to help writers draft more quickly and confidently. One of the biggest shifts she teaches? Start small. Like, five-minutes-a-day small. 

We also talk about the deep psychology behind why writing feels so hard sometimes—especially for those of us who love editing more than drafting (hi, I see you!). Daphne explains why school doesn’t prepare us for the emotional challenges of writing and offers simple, mindset-shifting strategies to help you work with your brain, not against it.

One of her favorite tricks is ending your writing session with a few quick notes for tomorrow—so when you return to the page, you’re not wasting time wondering what comes next. That little shift can make a huge difference.

We also had a great chat about mind mapping, which Daphne has adapted into an incredible tool for writers. Instead of just putting a topic in the center of the page, she suggests starting with a question. This sparks creativity and helps you move past the blocks that outlining often creates. I’ve used this myself in my poetry, and let me tell you—it works wonders.

This conversation is packed with practical advice that’s gentle, doable, and grounded in real-life writing experience. If you’re someone who wants to finish that draft but keeps getting stuck, I think you’ll find a lot of relief—and inspiration—here.

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Well hey there, Writer—and welcome to another cozy conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show! 

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with speculative fiction author M.T. Solomon, and let me tell you—this one’s for you if you’ve ever wondered how to balance real life with writing big, bold stories.

M.T. grew up in Alaska, and the vast, rugged wilderness she called home now infuses the lyrical, emotionally resonant stories she writes. She’s been creating stories since she was six (including hand-stitched books at age 11—how adorable is that?) but it wasn’t until after college and becoming a mom that she fully embraced her dream of publishing novels. 

We talk about her journey from self-publishing her first novel, All the Fragile Hearts, to continuing the duology with Whispers in the Dark, and how she ultimately found her way to traditional publishing with Liar Queen—a lush, politically charged fantasy series released through Golden Scales Publishing. 

M.T. shares how empowering it was to have a team behind her this time, supporting everything from editing to cover design. But she’s also refreshingly honest about what it took to self-publish—yes, including marketing her own books and even flying out of Alaska to sell them in-person at events.

We also dig into her approach to world-building—hint: it involves lots of people-watching, note-taking, and a fully developed story bible. If you’re writing speculative fiction and struggling with how to build a believable world, you’ll love M.T.’s practical and creative insights.

Of course, we couldn’t let the conversation go by without talking about how she gets the writing done—because M.T. is a mom, a partner, and a coach. From early-morning writing sessions to squeezing in time in the school pickup line, she shares how she carves out time and energy for her work. She’s refreshingly real about what it takes to prioritize writing without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you’re working on your first novel, wondering about the self-pub vs. traditional debate, or trying to write your book in the chaos of daily life—this episode is full of heart, encouragement, and grounded advice.

Grab your tea (or coffee!) and come join us. You’ll leave inspired to keep going, one messy, magical page at a time.

P.S. Here's some great news! The Resilient Writers Radio Show is featured as one of the Top 90 Book Podcasts on the web. You can find the list here.

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Hey there, Writer—welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show! Today, I’m chatting with author Terra Luft, a speculative fiction writer whose imagination leans toward the dark, twisty, and psychologically thrilling. 

Terra’s been writing since 2008 and just released her first solo short story collection, Nightmares of My Own. If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, felt like your writing life doesn’t look “ideal,” or wondered if your small pockets of time could actually move your book forward—this episode is for you.

Terra opens up about her journey from isolated kitchen writing sessions to finding her footing in the writing community—and why that community was the game-changer that kept her going. 

For over a decade, she’s published short stories in various anthologies, always dreaming of someday putting together a collection of her own. That dream became real in December 2024, and in this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of how it happened.

We talk about why short stories became her chosen form—spoiler: instant gratification plays a big role! Terra shares how writing short fiction allowed her to sharpen her craft in the midst of a demanding life, including full-time work in healthcare IT, going back to school, and raising a family. 

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when Terra shares how attending my Book Finishers Bootcamp shifted everything for her. She let go of the idea that she needed perfect conditions to write and leaned into consistent, realistic goals. She started writing on weekends while camping with her family—yes, literally around the campfire in a folding chair—and that’s how her book got finished.

Terra also walks us through her first foray into self-publishing, with all its surprises, challenges, and lessons learned. From choosing the perfect cover design to figuring out proofreading order (hint: it’s trickier than it seems!), Terra’s honest insights will resonate with anyone considering self-publishing. 

She shares how she curated the stories in her collection—crafting a reading journey from sci-fi to psychological horror to paranormal—and how discovering the unifying theme of “nightmares” helped her land on the perfect title.

We also talk about what she’s working on now: revising her favorite novel, with a goal of two writing sessions a week and 3,000 words. I loved hearing how the skills and confidence she built through short fiction and bootcamp are now fueling her longer work.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s “too late,” or if you have “enough time,” or if your first book needs to be perfect...this episode will remind you that the real magic is in starting anyway.

You can grab Nightmare

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the thoughtful and talented Canadian author, Rebecca Morris. 

Rebecca’s debut novel, Other Maps, was published in 2024 with Linda Leith Publishing, and it’s a powerful exploration of friendship, trauma, healing—and the quiet resilience that carries us through. 

In this conversation, we dive into her creative process, the emotional weight of writing about difficult topics, and how she supports other writers through their own journeys.

Rebecca began her writing life with the big dream of crafting a novel, but quickly found herself leaning into short fiction to learn the craft and get those satisfying wins of finishing and publishing smaller pieces. That experience gave her the structure and confidence she needed to return to the long-form project that became Other Maps. 

Originally told from the perspective of one character, the story evolved into a dual point-of-view narrative when Rebecca realized the emotional depth and importance of her second character’s voice. The final novel alternates chapters between two women navigating past trauma and present reconnection—a structure she carefully mapped out with color-coded Post-It notes!

We also explored the challenges of writing trauma with care. Other Maps is a “Me Too” novel, and Rebecca spoke with such grace and honesty about the responsibility of holding emotional truth in fiction. 

She emphasized the importance of taking breaks, checking in with yourself, and doing research to ensure that you’re treating sensitive material with both realism and deep respect. Even in fiction, readers bring their real-life experiences to the page—and that connection is powerful.

One of my favorite parts of this chat? Talking about writing routines and how to stay focused in a noisy world. Rebecca is a big fan of analog tools (me too!), like egg timers and sand hourglasses, to carve out intentional writing time without the distraction of her phone. She starts her days with freewriting to clear her head, and aims to protect her most creative hours in the early morning—something so many of us can relate to.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Matty Dalrymple—thriller author, podcaster, speaker, and indie publishing pro. 

Matty’s not only the writer behind the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, but also a passionate advocate for the power of short fiction—and trust me, she has so much wisdom to share.

We kick things off with Matty’s love of all things nautical (yes, even boat-watching on vacation!), and quickly dive into how she first began writing short fiction. What started as a way to keep her readers engaged between novels quickly turned into a cornerstone of her writing life. 

Matty’s “snippets” from the Ann Kinnear universe are fan favorites—and she now has a growing collection of suspenseful short reads that offer bite-sized thrills and deep character moments.

Matty walks us through the practical side of indie publishing short fiction, sharing tips on affordable cover design, working with beta readers, and even bringing her stories to life through audio narration. 

Her approach is smart, approachable, and encouraging—perfect for writers who want to do more without burning out or breaking the bank.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation? Hearing how short fiction can act as a creative refresh. Whether she’s exploring a quirky character like Garak Mazur (Ann’s ghostly, curmudgeonly mentor) or experimenting with settings and ideas that don’t quite fit a full novel, Matty embraces short stories as a playful way to stay inspired—and sometimes, they even lead to new books she hadn’t planned on writing!

And if you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a real market for short fiction? Matty’s answer is a resounding yes. Her short stories continue to sell (even with minimal promotion!), and they’ve become an unexpected income stream as well as a way to keep her readers excited and engaged.

We wrap up with encouragement for any writer who’s curious about short fiction but unsure where to start. Matty’s advice? Don’t overthink it—just try it out. A short story can be a creative experiment, a reader gift, or even a new path forward in your writing career.

Tune in and fall in love with the possibilities of short fiction, all over again

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In this week's episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ana del Valle Distasio, author, book coach, and host of The Novelist Studio podcast. 

Ana brings a fascinating mix of creative writing chops and tech-savvy brilliance to the table — and she’s on a mission to help writers harness the power of AI without compromising their voice or creative control.

We talked about everything from her early love of storytelling (her first story was a love story… written in Spanish at age six!) to her journey through Silicon Valley and why she made the bold leap from fantasy YA under her pen name S.N. Blue to her upcoming humorous women’s fiction novel, Valley of the Dudes.

But where things really got juicy? When we dove into how Ana is using tools like ChatGPT to support novelists — not to replace their creativity, but to amplify it.

Ana’s take is refreshingly grounded. She reminds us that AI isn’t some evil robot out to steal your manuscript. Instead, she likens ChatGPT to a super-smart assistant — like a “robot librarian” that can help you brainstorm, organize, and refine your work… if you know how to guide it properly.

We got into the common fears writers have around AI — like privacy, copyright, and whether the output is even any good (spoiler: it can be, but only if you know how to prompt it well). Ana explained how she’s built a thoughtful framework for using ChatGPT to outline, edit, and develop character backstories — all while ensuring that the writer remains in full control of the story.

We also didn’t shy away from the big-picture stuff: bias in AI, its environmental impact, and whether we risk losing skills like summarizing or editing when we rely on tools like this. Ana had such a thoughtful and honest perspective — especially on how to train ChatGPT to work in a way that actually supports your process.

If you're curious about using AI as a co-creative ally — especially for outlining or developmental edits — this episode is a must-listen.

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In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Canadian author Alexis von Konigslow—and what a fascinating conversation it was.

Alexis is the author of The Capacity for Infinite Happiness, and her latest novel The Exclusion Zone is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. 

Set in the haunting and still-radioactive landscape surrounding Chernobyl, it follows a scientist grappling with fear—both personal and collective—and offers an atmospheric, anxiety-tinged exploration of what it means to confront the unknown.

We dug into the origin of Alexis’s obsession with the Exclusion Zone (spoiler: it started with a commute and a news article) and how her deep dives into science and nature sparked the seed of this novel. 

Alexis brings a unique perspective as someone with a background in mathematical physics and a day job as a technical writer—she’s fluent in both the scientific and creative languages, and she uses that skill to craft stories that bridge the two.

I loved hearing about her writing process, which, as she humbly shared, involved a lot of “stolen moments”—from writing in the Notes app on her phone while standing in line at the grocery store, to letting scenes unfold in her mind during a daily commute. 

This book took ten years from first draft to publication, and Alexis doesn’t shy away from how real life—work, parenting, and all the everyday details—complicated that process. But she kept going, one minute at a time.

We also talked about writing fear and tension into your setting and how emotional honesty—pulling off the band-aid, as Alexis put it—can help create that lived-in, visceral feeling for the reader. She shared some beautiful insights about being open to observation and about writing the kind of book only you can write, even if it takes longer, and even if it’s different from what the market “wants.”

If you’re someone who’s balancing writing with a busy life, wondering how to stay true to your creative voice, or just love a good science-meets-story moment, this episode is for you.

The Exclusion Zone is out in May 2025 from the always-fabulous Canadian indie press Wolsak & Wynn. Go grab your copy—and get ready to be unsettled in the best possible way.

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What happens when your personal journey of healing and transformation inspires a novel? 

That’s exactly what happened to this week’s podcast guest, award-winning author SL Clarke (Sherrie Lynn Clarke), whose debut novel, When He Returns, explores resilience, trauma, and redemption.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Sherrie Lynn shares the fascinating backstory behind her novel’s evolution—from its first publication as True Strength to its rebranding and relaunch as When He Returns.

We discuss the deep emotional roots of the story, how martial arts played a crucial role in her personal growth, and why she ultimately decided to change the book’s title and cover to better fit the women’s domestic suspense genre.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

✨ How Sherrie Lynn channeled her own emotional transformation into her protagonist’s journey 

✨ The challenges of self-publishing and why she decided to rebrand her book 

✨ How she tackled cover design, book marketing, and genre alignment 

✨ What it’s like to write about deeply personal experiences while keeping fiction fictional 

✨ Her current memoir-in-progress about grief, faith, and self-discovery

If you’ve ever struggled with finding the right title, cover, or marketing approach for your book, this episode is packed with insights! Plus, you’ll love hearing about Sherrie Lynn’s creative journey—from marching band and martial arts to indie publishing and beyond.