You've got your outline and character arcs ready, but the draft isn't drafting! What do you do?! Never fear. This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith discuss the one thing that's likely holding your wordcount back: personal stakes.

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Have we got a treat for you! Authors and fellow podcasters Angela Montoya and Melanie Schubert from Of the Publishing Persuasion join us for a chat about how to handle the lows of publishing as well as tips to ensure your journey has staying power.

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We're always told that no writing goes to waste, but what does that actually mean?! Well, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith have got you covered this week. They cover the skills that will follow you throughout the writing journey. From querying to Netflix deals, these are the forever golden techniques to hone.

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As writers, it's our job to create engaging, dynamic, and precious characters... and then torture them until they complete their character arc! Readers will turn the page just to watch a character fight back against a bully or realize their stubbornness and pride is keeping them from the love of their life. This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith discuss how putting characters in a vacuum in which they are devoid of the thing they really need can create addictive stories.

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We said magic systems deserved their own episode, so we delivered! How do you create a magic system that tantalizes your readers, maxes out vibes, and develops a gut-wrenching theme? Authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith go into detail about how you can make your witches, mages, and space wizards do work for you!

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Also, pre-order Lyssa's book, GILDED IN VENGEANCE, now!

You know we love tropes on Turning to Story. Cuddling for warmth. Touch-starved. Enemies to lovers. Butwhy are those tropes so darn good? This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith analyze T. Taylor's7 Figure Fictionto uncover the truth about tropes.

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Pre-order Lyssa's YA fantasy romance, GILDED IN VENGEANCE, now!

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How do you create a world that leaps from the page? What about one readers will print t-shirts and fanart of? This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith discuss how make the world of your story work for you.

Remember to add Lyssa's new YA romantic fantasy, GILDED IN VENGEANCE, to your Goodreads!

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Betray their family? Leave home for an adventure? Reveal that your skin sparkles in the sunlight to the girl you love? This week is all about character choices. Authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith chat about what makes strong choices as well as the power they have to send your plot in directions your readers will love.

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Grab a warm cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and prepare to take your characters to therapy! This week, Lyssa Mia Smith puts on her psychologist hat to guide us through character behavior patterns and how they can help us build story from the character up.

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This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith uncover the secrets of Pixar's powerful writing. It starts with internal conflict and ends with jaw-dropping, personal themes. Analyze craft and cheer on football players making touchdowns??

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