In this episode, we talk with a former LAPD lieutenant whose unexpected second act as an Uber driver led to more than 10,000 rides—and ultimately to the memoir Chasing the Surge: Ten Thousand Rides into the American Night. What began as a post-career pivot became a powerful lens into the lives, struggles, and surprising moments shared by strangers in the back seat.
We explore how real-life encounters can become compelling storytelling, and how reinvention later in life can open the door to creative work. For writers interested in memoir and narrative nonfiction, this conversation offers insight into transforming everyday experiences into meaningful, authentic stories. Visit Raymond at http://www.hitechcj.com and learn more about us at AtmospherePress.com.

In this episode, we talk with author James Blakey about two important parts of building a writing career: selling books in person and publishing short stories. James shares practical advice on finding the best venues for authors, such as conventions, libraries, book festivals, and craft markets, along with tips for setting up an engaging table, interacting with readers, and perfecting your pitch. We also dive into the world of short story publishing. Drawing on his experience selling 50+ stories and editing regional anthologies, James explains how short story submissions differ from querying a novel, key industry terminology, how to find the right markets, and what writers should know about rights and contracts. Learn more at jamesblakeywrites.com and AtmospherePress.com.

In today’s world, readers are understandably turning more and more to ecofiction. For authors, the question of how to write good nature-centered fiction is an important one to ponder, so they can help their readers care about the natural world. Book coach Erin Radniecki explains what makes good ecofiction and what pitfalls to look out for in your own writing.

There's no one right path to writing poetry; each poet will find what works for them. But if you're struggling with the craft, attending events with other writers or opening your thoughts up to the simplest gratitudes could be just what you need to invigorate your practice. Poet and writing tutor Susan Taylor shares her advice on just how to approach this.

Build a brand, cultivate your audience, always have the next book poised to release: that's all, rather broad advice for authors who want to learn how to write full-time. You hear these things all the time for a reason, though; it's just a matter of figuring out how to do it all. Author and book coach Lisa Daily has collected techniques from various 7-figure authors, and is here to lay out what you need to do to take your author career to the next level--or the next tax bracket. 

Beta reader feedback can be such an important tool to writers as they polish their manuscripts, and it can also be an overwhelming challenge to incorporate. From soliciting readers to receiving feedback, from internalizing conflicting perspectives to inputting the changes you decide to keep, it's a lengthy but invaluable process. Historical fiction author Beth Ford knows her way around the beta reader block, and she's here to lay out tips on how to approach the process.

To get an MFA or not to get an MFA is a question that many serious writers ponder at some point in their writing careers, and there is, of course, no “right” answer; it depends on each individual writer. However, in a time when it seems like an MFA is a necessary step in a writer's career, some voices are cropping up to point out that often the opposite can be true. Acclaimed author and MFA professor Randall Silvis lays out all the things writers need to consider before they choose to pursue an MFA, and his input could make all the difference.

With each new personality test comes a fresh perspective on developing and writing compelling characters for your stories, and the Myers-Briggs Index is no exception. With four axes of personality descriptions combined into 16 distinct personality types, the Myers-Briggs Index can also be used to write character development. A.W. Baldwin, multi-award-winning author, talks through how to shape and sharpen your characters using the Myers-Briggs Index.

Celebrities and social media influencers are the biggest phenomenon in influencing buying practices we've seen yet, and even just one influencer shouting out your book can completely change its sales trajectory for the better. Getting your book in front of celebrities and influencers is an interesting--not impossible--task. Emily Florence, a former entertainment publicist for shows like American Idol and Gilmore Girls as well as a writer for outlets like Forbes and The Huffington Post, is here to give her advice on how you can get your book into the hands of big names.

As an author of ten novels, AJ Eversley is no stranger to the manuscript drafting and editing process. She's seen her fair share of filler words, excessive info-dumping, and flat characters. But that also means she has developed techniques to spot these flaws in her first draft and correct them for an iron-strong final draft. She shares some of her tried-and-true strategies with us in this episode.