The Word Weaver Podcast

Show Notes

Join me for a candid conversation with my friend, Northwestern grad and Brooklyn-based author of FRIENDS FROM HOME and WHO WE ARE NOW, Lauryn Chamberlain on how to build literary community by shooting your shot and sliding into author DMs, the literary scene in Brooklyn vs. Toronto, launching a debut during the pandemic, how to structure a book with multi-POV, third person limited, the process of coming up with catchy book titles and eye-catching covers, her writing routine as a pantser and what it looks like to lead a creative life with and without children...plus, the best way to order a martini.

Links Mentioned

R.O. Kwon on The Parents Who Regret Having Children (TIME Magazine)

Cheryl Strayed on The Ghost Ship that Didn’t Carry Us (Dear Sugar Column)

Lauryn’s Links

Website: laurynchamberlain.com

Instagram: @laurynjc

Books:

Friends From Home

Who We Are Now

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Show Notes: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

Apple iTunes

Spotify

YouTube

NEW episodes weekly every Word Weaver Wednesday. Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes, Spotify, and now on YouTube.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the #WordWeaverPodcast with your friends, family, and social media, as it helps more people find out about it! I appreciate it so much.

Show Notes

Did you know that flamingos lose their pink colour while caring for their young, but as the children grow and mature they eventually get their pink back? In today's episode, I share how this (new to me) concept relates to my life lately and share my tips on how to get out of a writing slump, beat writer's block, and make writing a priority again after taking time away from your manuscript.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Show Notes: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

Apple iTunes

Spotify

YouTube

NEW episodes weekly every Word Weaver Wednesday. Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes, Spotify, and now on YouTube.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the #WordWeaverPodcast with your friends, family, and social media, as it helps more people find out about it! I appreciate it so much.

Welcome back to a brand new season of the Word Weaver Podcast! It's been a VERY hot minute since I last recorded an episode...and by hot minute, I mean it's been THREE YEARS since we last spoke. I'm excited to be joining the SickBird Productions roster, a female-founded Forbes 30 under 30 company with a mission to amplify female-centric voices and a focus on showcasing women-led content.

My first solo episode back is a bit of a vulnerable one where I share my unfiltered thoughts about how I was scared of losing my identity as a writer when I became a mother. I'm still in the trenches so I don't have all of the answers but I want this podcast to be as honest and raw as possible about the realities of authorhood.

I also discuss what you can expect moving forward with Word Weaver, my thoughts on video podcasting, contemplating deleting social media, antenatal anxiety, and my feelings on the hazy crazy days of early motherhood while struggling to maintain a creative sense of self.

I'm so happy to be back and connecting with you all in this way again.

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms including iTunes, Spotify, and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly every Word Weaver Wednesday.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the Word Weaver Podcast with your friends, family, and social media, as it helps more people find out about it! I appreciate it so much.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I share three things that have changed my writing life for the better lately including:

1. Kanban Board

2. Setting not only a daily, but also weekly word count target for my WIP (and of course, stickers!)

3. Scrivener (desktop version for writers ~ not sponsored!)

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I share how using the rule of three in your writing to create compelling character arcs can help raise the stakes in your novel.

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

Today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast is short and sweet, but imperative for a great story. Learning how to write a book premise, logline, and define your book’s elevator pitch is the first step to writing a book. The second step is structuring, outlining, and plotting — but first, you need to understand your book’s central idea/theme, what drives the plot. Typically, a premise needs to contain 3 things in a single sentence:

A protagonist

A goal (what does your protagonist want or need?)

A situation or crisis (the protagonist is facing)

You should be able to define what your story is about, why readers should care, and be able to complete this sentence:

[Character] must [do something] to [story goal] or else [disaster/crisis situation/reason why the audience should care].

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I have the pleasure of chatting with author Lindsay Zier-Vogel about her debut novel, LETTERS TO AMELIA. In our conversation, we discuss (amongst many things): the transformative power of letter writing, what it’s like to launch your first book during a pandemic, the research process into the undocumented parts of Amelia Earhart’s life, dealing with devastating rejections, and how specificity is key to great writing.

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Lindsay’s Links

Website: lindsayziervogel.com

Instagram: @lindsay.ziervogel

Twitter: @lindsayzv

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I chat about ways to handle constructive criticism and negative feedback as a writer. Writing and publishing books requires a level of vulnerability that can make the harsh sting of criticism hurt on a personal level, but learning how to deal with criticism is crucial for a long-lasting career as an author. In this episode I talk about differentiating between constructive criticism you should ignore and helpful feedback that can enhance your writing, along with sharing some ways I manage self-criticism and literary criticism as a full-time writer.

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I chat with Colby Sharma, speaker and author of THE CURVEBALL: A Story of Grit, Adversity, and Winning the Game of Life. Colby discusses his debut book, the heroic vs. egoic self, and shares valuable insights on what it means to live a life of impact. We also discuss the importance of mentorship, failure, family support (his father is motivational speaker and bestselling author Robin Sharma), and using fear as fuel to overcome adversity on your path to growth.

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Connect with Colby:

Website: colbysharma.com

Instagram: @colbysharmaofficial

Buy Colby’s Book: THE CURVEBALL

Books Mentioned in the Podcast:

On Writing by Stephen King

Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts by Ryan Holiday

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.

On today’s chapter of the #WordWeaverPodcast I share my top five tips on how to write a great book blurb. Your title and cover can grab a potential reader’s attention, but it’s your book description that does most of the heavy lifting in enticing a reader to buy your book. Think of your book description as a movie trailer in written form. It’s not a play-by-play summary, but in a few compelling paragraphs you should be able to accurately describe your novel, set up the main conflict and give the reader a reason to care about your protagonist without giving too much away. “Your book is a story, but your book description is an ad.”

The Word Weaver Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and now on YouTube.

Word Weaver Podcast Links

Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast

Website: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

#wordweaverpodcast

NEW episodes weekly on Word Weaver Wednesdays.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and screenshot/share the Word Weaver Podcast on social media, as it helps more people find it! I appreciate it so much.

Available on all podcast platforms including Apple iTunes and Stitcher.