The Writing Apothecary Podcast

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Welcome to a new topic! We're going to look at Creativity and the Muse. I make some pretty big statements too, but before that let's take a peek into what will come. It's also the first episode back after the huge year that was! I cover it in the episode.

We’ll be looking at the history behind the muse and just what creativity is. 

Creativity will not wait for you. It will dry up when you don’t use it but it will still be there when you come back to it. It’s something that you have to work with. The more that use of creativity, the more there is. Some of my favourite books on creativity explore coming back from being stuck or that you can have a day job and still create. If you’re serious about your work you would have head all about Big Magic by Liz Gilbert and it still stands as one of my favourite books in the world about creativity. And it’s my go to book to recommend for an easy read where you don’t have to do too much work. 

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary podcast and to our interview with the most divine human ever. I got to interview Amie Mcnee who is the perfect most perfect guest for Writer's Block. It's been a challenge to get here! This episode is so delayed due to me getting the spicy cough and have been dealing with all of the fatigue that comes with it, but we're back and we're ready. 

In today's chat here are some of the topics we chat about:

• Writer's Block
• Procrastination 
• Amie's relationship with both
• Journalling
• Giving ourselves permission to drop expectations
• And so much more.

This is a chat you don't want to miss and through some technical difficulties, it's come together so well. I really loved this chat so much and secretly or not so secretly was fan girling over this amazing woman.
 
About Amie
Amie McNee is an author, creative coach, speaker and podcaster. Amie writes both historical fiction and non fiction books about creativity and living a creative life. Amie helps thousands of creatives all over the world to move through resistance and chase their callings.

You can find her here: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Podcast.

Grab a copy of her book The Rules Upheld by No One here.

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary podcast and to our last theory lesson on Writer's Block. It's a bit late as I had the spicy cough and was pretty exhausted. But we're back into it. Writer’s Block is such a personal thing and I’ve loved hearing from you guys and opening up the conversation about Writer’s block because it is so different for everyone and I think that it’s a great opportunity to talk to other writers about how it feels or what you can do to help heal it, which is what we’re talking about today.

There are ways to help alleviate writer’s block when you are working through it, some of these are my favourite ways to move through it, because it does take some time to move through it even when we think we don't need it. 

Key points:

• Moving your body is a big factor.
• Moving your space.
• Logging out of social media helps regain your sense of self.
• The Artist's Way is a big resource that you need. 
• Writing yourself out of the block.
• Having rituals help you sit down and write. 

The important thing is to find what you need to make your life easier and to get yourself writing again. You need to find the touchstones that make you feel good and put you in the mindset to write, even when all you can manage is a couple of sentences. 

I’d love to know what your touchstones are for when you find it hard to write. Do you turn to different music or do you get out of your space and out write somewhere else.

This wraps up our theory lessons on Writer’s Block. I am bursting with so much excitement for our next guest. You guys are going to love our chat. 

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.
Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

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Welcome back to our second lesson on writer’s block. I hope that you’ve all been productive. I know I have. Or at least I have tried to be. I’ve sent my manuscript to my editor and it’s with BETA readers. It’s making me so nervous but I’m trying to keep busy, which is good. I’m trying to get ahead with the podcast because it does take a lot of time and effort to get it done. I’m a one-woman production here. I write all the scripts, record, edit and mix all of the episodes on my own. I do have a friend who will help me with audio and mixing my ads because royalty-free music confuses me. 

Today we look at the emotional and environmental triggers of what can hinder our writing.

Key points: 

• Looking at how my father's death affected my ability to write.
• Environmental factors like:
  • Cleaning your space
  • Moving out of your space 

The main theme for this season is to be gentle with yourself and to acknowledge that these kinds of blocks exist. 

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.
Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to a new year and a new topic. 2021 is behind us and I can’t believe that we’re in 2022! Wowiiiie.  I hope everyone has had some great time off. I spent some of my time off in Adelaide with my mum and basically being a mermaid and then just getting back into my retail job. Things are gearing up and are a little mental at the moment but that will pass. I know it will.

But also, welcome to one year of The Writing Apothecary Podcast! We have covered so much ground and covered so many topics and we still have so many to go. I’m still going to stick to our fortnightly or bi-weekly episodes as I’m working through getting my novel ready to publication: spoiler alert, I’m doing myself and it will be a bi-product of a long term goal I want to work on. 

Today we look at what writer's block is or what it really isn't. 

The problem with Writer’s block is that there are things you can to do support yourself to write yourself out of the block but it’s also something that you sometimes need to take some time away from. I know it sounds counter productive but stepping away from what is troubling you will actually help you out of it. 

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary and our interview for revision. Today's guest is published author Jess Faraday and we talk about all things revision. As a traditionally published author she has a different take on revisions and an important one.

In today's chat we talk about:

• First drafts
• Time between revisions
• Looking as aspects
• How to flip the revisions on their head
• And some great nuggets on when to revise. 

I really loved this chat and it was such a fun and refreshing take on revisions. 

About Jess:
Jess Faraday is the author of the Simon Pearce Mysteries, the Ira Adler Mysteries, and several standalone works of suspense. She lives in Scotland.

You can find her here: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to the Writing Apothecary and the last lesson for revision. Last week was a big one and we're following it up with the smaller things.  Life has been a bit hectic so this one is a little bit late, but better to be late than never!

First thing is first, reading your draft out loud, does wonders. You can find the natural pace of the dialogue and all of the words you’ve missed or misspelled. Because our eyes are trained to see what is there, even if we miss it. 

Without going into a lot of detail, because we are going to be covering editing – don’t worry there, we need to refine our writing before it gets to that point though. So let’s take a look at what we need to step into when we’re looking at the revisions of the smaller things. 

In this lesson we're covering:

• Grammar and punctuation
• Mastering the imperfect perfect tense
• Metaphors
• Modifiers
• Clichés
• Attributions
• Simplifying your words

Revisions can go on and on and on. How do you know when you’re done with them? How do you know it’s ready for the next stage? 

And honestly? You will be able to remove yourself from the process. You’ll be able to look at the way that it works and the way that it all goes together. Stories are never finished and they will always need tweaking, even when you come back to them 10 years later and they’re published. This is the nature of our brains and you’ll need to counteract that with moving on to the next project.  

Your story will never please everyone and that’s ok. It has to make you happy and you have to have a steady belief in it. If you do. Nothing will be able to shake you. 

Book References:

• Eats, shots and leaves - Lynne Truss
• The Elements of Style -  William Strunk and E.B. White

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary and to our new lesson on revision: the big picture. 

All of the work we have done to get here has actually been foundational. We’ve looked at what makes up a story and what is so important to a story but now we’re turning it on its head and looking at it from a revision point of view and not a writing point of view. Both are very different. This is something I can’t stress enough. Don’t beat yourself up if this doesn’t really compute the first time. It takes a bit of getting used to. But with revisions, you just need to be asking yourself the right questions. 

You can choose to pick a draft and focus on different topics but looking at the big picture and the big topics here are some of the most important.

The main points from today's podcast:

• Character
• Plot
• PoV
• Description
• Dialogue
• Setting
• Voice 
• Flashbacks

And lastly looking at the themes of the story is something that, we as writers, don’t unconsciously put into the story. It’s a piece that we discover at this revision stage, because we can remove ourselves from the process. Once they’re found we need to nurture them, dress them up and display them to have the theme resonate with the reader. 

The bigger picture is far more important than we realise and that means that we need to take the time to look at all of the parts of a story. It’s important to take some time back before starting revisions, as well. Because time is a writer’s friend. It gives you distance to look at the manuscript with fresh eyes, just like you would with editing.

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to The Writing Apothecary Podcast and back to another new topic! Cutting down the monthly topic to bimonthly has helped clear space and allow for me to have the mental capacity to work with my creativity instead of against it. I'm appreciative to everyone for still supporting the podcast. Our bimonthly topic is: Revision and I'm so excited.

The aim is to take the lessons that are so personal and make them digestible and easy to follow. 

The first thing you need, before you even start revisions, is a first draft, which means if you haven’t done that, you need to put in that work before you can start anything else. It is important to get that step out of the way. Any good writing teacher will tell you that they can’t teach you to write and I am here to tell you the same thing. I can’t teach you to write, I can give you all of the tools but you are the one who is ultimately the one who will bring it all together. A statement that one of my uni lecturers made in one of their lectures was that all writing is rewriting. And it was one of the most truest statements to date. 

All writing is rewriting. 

Take that in because as we look at the big picture of revision and the smaller details we need to understand that this is where the magic really begins. 

Our giveaway is still going and to go into the draw, check out my chat with Lindsay and head to the show notes on my website and leave your nugget of gold and sign up to the mailing list to get access to early episodes, BTS of the podcast and the winner of the giveaway. 

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to another episode of the Writing Apothecary Podcast and today do I have an amazing guest for you this week.

As we look at our last lesson on genre we have the most amazing guest on board. Lindsay is such an amazing writer and so sweet. Our chat left me energised and so excited to tackle what was coming up.

We chat about her favourite genres and what genre tropes work the best to entice readers.

We go on a Nora Roberts tangent that brings us right back to mixing genres and how successful it is once you know the rules and you're able to break them and make something new.

I can't wait to see more of what Lindsay has to come, we chat about her novel and the soap opera beginnings that she started with before she added the fantasy element, which is so fascinating.

To celebrate our amazing interview, I'm giving away her "Future Bestselling Author" Mug to hold all of your beverages, whether it's tea, coffee or booze. To get a chance to go into the draw, head on over to this post and leave what genre's would you mash together and what their rules would be. For added entries like our Instagram and join our email list.

About Lindsay:
Lindsay Elizabeth is an author of fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, mystery, and twists. She chronicles her writing journey on her blog and Instagram and runs an online shop with lifestyle goods for fellow writers, readers, and creatives.

You can find her here: Website, Instagram,  Twitter,  Facebook, Pinterest.

You can buy her merch made with creatives in mind at her Etsy Shop.

Tell me what did you take away from this week's lesson? I'd love to know.

Also, I would really appreciate it if you took the time to rate and review the podcast it helps people find our community and gets the podcast out into the world a little more.

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to episodes join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Want exclusive behind the scenes and early access to The Writing Apothecary episodes? Join up to the mailing list over here.

If you're looking for a cheerleader for your writing, then head on over to https://dreamingfullyawake.com/work-with-me/ and let's have a chat about how we can work together to get your writing on track. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram @thewritingapothecary
Follow Mandi on all socials: @mandikont