Thriving Writers Podcast

Abrams Children’s editor Claire Stetzer joins us for a podcast conversation about genre-bending, publishing diverse stories, the trope-ification of YA, and more!

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

Embrace your weird! Literary tastemaker and Debutiful founder Adam Vitcavage talks about championing debut authors and working to demystify the cloak and daggers publishing ecosystem. Listen in as we juggle topics like dealing with the pressures of early pitching cycles, the importance of independent booksellers, and the rise of influencer culture. As we hustle for connection in an attention-fractured culture competing with streaming, games, and AI, reading remains a vital art form for making people feel seen.

Debutiful

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:

Claire Linney shares how a book about Black British history sparked the idea for her series Time Tub Travellers! Our fun conversation covers topics from self-publishing challenges to marketing strategies on social media. Plus, get tips on how to write children’s books aimed to educate and entertain.

Claire Linney

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:

Jennie Nash started Author Accelerator when she realized there was a need for more personalized, ongoing coaching to assist through the often isolating writing process. In this episode, get answers to common queries: What do writers need to excel? Is my story idea good enough? How can I better position my book in the market? Can AI help me write a book? Learn her keys to effective book coaching, giving and getting writing feedback, and the benefit of catering to your creative impulses.

Jennie Nash
Website: https://jennienash.com/
Social: @jennienashbookcoach

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

How do you set realistic expectations in publishing? If a book doesn’t sell, how do you cope with rejection? Literary agent and author Kate McKean chats about her latest book Write Through It! She also shares tips for honing your writer’s intuition, pitching your book, and what queries stand out in the slush pile.

Kate McKean
Website: https://www.katemckean.com/
Social: @kate_mckean

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

From Top Chef to magical cooking school: Food Network personality and chef Marisa Churchill chats about her upcoming YA novel, Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate! Find out how she pivoted from cookbook to novel writing inspired by her years of culinary experience. Plus, tips on book marketing, fantasy world-building, and school visits.

Want to win some of Marisa’s chocolates? From 10/22-11/5 you can preorder her book and send a screenshot of the order to [email protected] with the subject heading Good Story. Three lucky winners will receive a media kit.

Marisa Churchill
Website: https://www.marisachurchill.com/
Social: @chef_marisachurchill

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

Alee Anderson and Alice Sullivan are here to celebrate the release of their new book, The Definitive Guide to Ghostwriting! This highly intensive process often requires 300-500 hours of work per book, including extensive interviews and research. Learn the secrets to building a ghostwriting career, marketing to develop a strong client base, and translating a client’s unique voice and story to the page.

Alee Anderson
Website: https://aleeandersoneditorial.com/
Social: @heyyoungwriter

Alice Sullivan
Website: https://alicesullivan.com/
Social: @alicewrites

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

Brent Taylor started at Triada US as an 18-year-old intern and has since built a successful career representing children's and adult fiction. Hear his thoughts on what’s booming in the market, what will be hot next year, the rise of romance, tips for querying authors, hybrid publishing and more!

Brent Taylor
Website: https://www.btaylorbooks.com/
Triada US

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

Author Paul Coccia joins the podcast to chat about Recommended Reading, his YA book developed in partnership with Bittersweet Books! Learn his tricks for character development and interiority, why you should try throwing out your first draft, and how he pulls inspiration from lit theory. We also cover plans for the zombie apocalypse, how true crime is the antithesis to rom-coms, and why that had to happen in Bridge to Terabithia. Plus, Paul discusses the importance of representing LGBTQ+ characters and experiences by creating stories with universal appeal that are meaningful for queer readers.

Paul Coccia
Website: https://www.paulcoccia.com/
Social: @pauljcoccia

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq
NEW! Show and Tell: https://amzn.to/4kCc4no

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/

Jessica Faust, President of BookEnds Literary Agency, details her 26-year career as a literary agent, growing the company from a small boutique firm to a large agency representing fiction and nonfiction for adult and children's markets. Listen in as she shares insights on current publishing trends, including the resurgence of romance, the reimagining of the cozy mystery genre, and the challenges facing the middle grade and young adult markets.

BookEnds Literary
Website: https://bookendsliterary.com/
Social: @bookends_literary

Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.

Website: https://www.goodstorycompany.com
Membership: https://www.goodstorycompany.com/membership
Writing Workshop: https://www.storymastermind.com

Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Manuscript Submission Blueprint: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
Irresistible Query Letters: https://amzn.to/3yg511K
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: https://amzn.to/3SrApRU
How to Write a Book Now: https://BookHip.com/ZHXAAKQ
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters: https://amzn.to/4evsX0B
NEW! Writing Irresistible First Pages: https://amzn.to/4gxgslq

Follow us on social:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodstory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Substack: https://goodstoryco.substack.com/