The Word Count

Fiona returns from her daughter’s wedding with stories and big news: 70,000 words and counting! Jo shares her pub-day plans for A Disappearing Act (out 28 Oct), and Jacq reports on festival and anthology work. 

Goal setting, messy-middle talk, and tips for writers. 

Follow @thewordcountpod so you never miss an episode!

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

✨ New Episode — Happy 2nd Birthday! 🎉

Two years ago we hit record on our writing journeys… and here we are, celebrating TWO YEARS of The Word Count podcast! 💛

In this special episode, we look back at what’s changed since our first birthday — new books, agents, deals, retreats, and plenty of laughter (and bubbles 🍾).

We’re nearly at 50 episodes, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU — our listeners, our fourth friend at the table. 🥂

Tune in to celebrate with us and hear what’s next for year three! 🥳

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

This week on The Word Count, we leaned into life’s big moments — the ones that pull us away from the page and remind us that writing doesn’t always get to be the priority.

With less than a month to Fiona’s daughter’s wedding, she’s fully in her Mother of the Bride era 👰💐 (yes, with the t-shirt to prove it!). 

Jo opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her beautiful Frankie 🐾, and Jacq talks about what's next for her book as she navigates the publication journey.

We talked honestly about how we manage (or don’t manage!) our writing during times when life needs our attention — and why giving ourselves grace matters just as much as hitting our word counts.

💛 If you’re balancing big life changes alongside your writing, this one’s for you.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

💥 This episode is going to give you ALL the feels!

You’ve got 24 hours to listen (it’s only 30 minutes — perfect for your commute, walk, school run, or lunch break) before we share the BIG BIG news with the world.

💛 Pretty please don’t spoil it for others until tomorrow, when we’ll be posting ALL about it!

But… if you’ve listened, we’d love you to comment or send us a message.

⚠️ If you haven’t listened, DO NOT read the comments on socials!

So what are you waiting for? We know you’re dying to know… 😜

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

We’re already halfway through August, and it’s been a busy two weeks for The Word Count crew - what with it being Fiona’s birthday month (Jacq calls it Fionaugust), beach holidays, plane trips, bookseller dinners, book launches, and workshops - but was any writing done? We tell all!

We are also talking about metaphoric sharks in the water - those moments when you’re treading water, trying to stay afloat, but the sharks are circling. You can see what’s coming, and you know it could threaten your goals or derail your deadlines. We have suggestions about what you can do!

In addition, we have your favourite segments: 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 and 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀, and new favourite 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? ✨

Shout outs include: @jesskitching @thewriteclub @rwaaus @hayleyscrivenor @camillebooker @readingby.candlelight

🎧 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 44  𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗡𝗢𝗪 – wherever you love to listen!

 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

In this episode, we are all doing different things, but we are all writing. Which just goes to show that writing looks different for everyone!

💛 Jacq finishes up her 2-week KSP Fellowship

💛 Fiona is busy writing (and rewriting)

💛Jo is drafting BOOK 4

As always, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨

 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

 In this episode, we talk about what comes after you hit "send"—when the final proofread is done, the manuscript is locked, and the book is officially out of your hands. 

💛 Jo shares how it feels to finish Book 3

💛 Fiona contemplates the two-thirds mark

💛Jacq reminds us there’s always another story to tell.

Of course, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

We probably should have called this episode “The One Where Jo Lets The Secret Out Of The Bag” (listen to the end, you’ll understand 😜😂)

💛 We discuss pitching - what works and what doesn’t 

💛 Fiona and Jacq commit to entering Pitchable at @qldwriters

💛 Jo and Jacq talk about doing their nudie solstice swim!

Of course, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨

 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

We’re celebrating our 40th episode by answering 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 burning questions — about us, the podcast, writing… and more!

PLUS, we announce the lucky dear listener who’s won an 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 – 𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁 – along with 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗮 @𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲, and the newest obsession: 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀!

And of course, your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨

 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛

Aaaannnddd… we’re back!

It’s been SEVEN LONG WEEKS since we were last in your ears, dear listeners - and we hope you missed us! 😉 

We've chatted a little longer than usual because it's been so long since the last episode, but it's still under 40 minutes! 

This episode is (fittingly) all about Brainstorms:

💛 Jo shares how her brain surgery went
 💛 Fiona tries to brainstorm her way out of the messy middle
 💛 And Jacq, as always, is the brainy one reading books we’ve never even heard of

Of course, your favourite segments are back: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨

 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙-𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 — 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛.

𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑇𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑟, 𝐽𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷.

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 30 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 💛