Whether or not you seek to avoid conflict in real life, avoiding conflict in your writing will make for a boring book.

For the first half of this season we are covering conflict as a literary device and taking a close look at the seven different types. I’ll offer examples, I’ll discuss how conflict should guide your story, and I’ll explain how more than of these conflicts can be at play within your manuscript. 

• Has the DEI Backlash Come for Publishing? - The Atlantic
• WSJ | Kindle is the new must-have accessory (again)
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks

I discuss the new format for the show moving forward and how I talk myself out of having imposter syndrome.

• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Listener Feedback Survey. I am in the process of reviewing and revising the show’s format accordingly, but there is still a little bit of time to complete our survey and tell me what to do. Check the show notes for a link to the survey, and remember that all responses are anonymous and highly appreciated. For now, it’s review time again.

• Writing Break Listener Feedback Survey - Please complete this survey.
• The Art of the Mini Sales Pitch: How to Subtitle Your Book So People Will Read It ‹ Literary Hub
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks

Today we are wrapping up our series on how to write better than AI and insisting on our cup of stars. Please remember to fill out the Writing Break survey. The feedback we're receiving is changing the format of the show. Thank you!

• Association of American Literary Agents - Association of American Literary Agents
• K-lytics Fantasy Romance Report and Market Seminar Video
• Warner Music Loses Appeal In Supreme Court Case Over Copyright Infringement
• Sights and Insights from the 2024 U.S. Book Show
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Sideway Love (Backtrack)" by Yagull Music

"Tropical Dance" by Sondé

We have a Listener Feedback Survey for you today in addition to our usual publishing news and writing tips. We appreciate you taking a minute to complete the survey.

• Writing Break Listener Feedback Survey - Please complete this survey.
• Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
• Farshore Annual Review
• Judge a Book by its Edges | Barnes & Noble
• How to get kids to read for fun: People who work on middle-grade books have some ideas.
• Yes, People Do Buy Books
• PEN America Cancels 2024 World Voices Festival
• Readers Take Denver 2025 conference canceled after "Fyre Festival of books"
• Authors Guild Supports FTC's Proposed Ban on Non-Compete Clauses - The Authors Guild
• FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes | Federal Trade Commission
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“No More Phone Calls” by The Turquoise Moon

“Feel good laid back jazz piano” Gerardo Garcia Jr

It’s break time, writers. We have a lot of publishing news to get through today, and we’re continuing with our four-part series on how to write better than AI.

• 10 Things Author-Publishers Should Know About Amazon Advantage
• AI book publishing platform Spines raises $6.5M to disrupt centuries-old industry - SiliconANGLE
• Fake AI law firms are sending fake DMCA threats to generate fake SEO gains | Ars Technica
• The Bookseller - News - Trade debates shift towards shorter books for children
• How One Author Pushed the Limits of AI Copyright | WIRED
• PEN America Cancels 2024 Literary Awards Ceremony
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Gazing Out of a Café Window on a Rainy Day” by The Turquoise Moon

“Jazz You Up” by Julian Gross

Since the release of ChatGPT, the number of freelance writing jobs is shrinking. Can writers even compete? I hope so, which is why today we are beginning a four-part series that will highlight several writing techniques that elevate any work, be it fiction or nonfiction. Let’s see how many of them you already incorporate into your work.

• The Forgotten Painting: A Historical Mystery Novella (The Jack Rogan Mysteries) by Gabriel Farago - Featured Author
• Underground Bookstore, Carrollton, GA - Featured Bookstore
• The jobs being replaced by AI - an analysis of 5M freelancing jobs - bloomberry
• The Boom in Middle Grade Novels Turned Comics
• Real Person Fan Fiction
• American Library Association reports record number of unique book titles challenged in 2023 | News and Press Center
• Where Do We Draw The Line With Real Person Romances in Publishing?
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Warm Spring Groove: Chill Lo-fi” by The Turquoise Moon

“Our Love Will Fight” by Humans Win

“Midnight Cool” by Yagull Music

“Late Night Jam” by Eno Orefice

Today we are looking at innovations in book publishing and discussing subtitles. The Writing Break cafe is open, and we have a lot of publishing news to get through today, so let’s grab a drink and a snack before settling in at our usual table.

• The Art of the Mini Sales Pitch: How to Subtitle Your Book So People Will Read It ‹ Literary Hub
• The Art of the Mini Sales Pitch: How to Subtitle Your Book So People Will Read It ‹ Literary Hub
• Romantasy, AI and Palestinian voices: publishing trends emerge at London book fair | London book fair | The Guardian
• The Bookseller - Rights - Transworld wins five-way auction for Antony Johnston's interactive crime novel
• Dutch Publisher Develops AI Books - Publishers Lunch
• A Rise in Ai-Generated Unauthorized Book Biographies
• Authors Guild Response To Findaway and Spotify’s Audiobook Terms of Use - The Authors Guild
• Brandon Sanderson Says Deal with Audible Is in the Works
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Casa De Frio” by Jon Presstone

“Before You Go” by Humans Win

As an editor, my authors’ late-night, semi-coherent correspondence, choppy first drafts, and deepest darkest secrets die with me. However, today I am sharing an email exchange between an author and myself, with the author’s permission, of course.

• The Touch of Her Voice by Sara Scott - Featured Author
• Blush Bookstore, Wichita, Kansas - Featured Bookstore
• Why romance novels are having a moment - Marketplace
• From Boston to Chicago, romance bookstores are popping up
• Sexily ever after: how romance bookstores took over America | Romance books | The Guardian
• Tor Books Criticized for Use of AI-Generated Art in 'Gothikana' Cover Design
• Thin Margins: The Paper Shortage and Its Toll on the Printing Industry: Episode 1 — Baldwin Technology
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Space Cassette" by Humans Win

"Wichita" by Humans Win

"Before You Go" by Humans Win

In this episode, we are discussing book awards, book marketing, and the bit of writing advice Neil Gaiman gave out this week.

• Science fiction authors were excluded from awards for fear of offending China
• Author J.D Barker Apologizes, Dropped by Agent After 'Creepy' BookTok Request
• GUNGNIR: tales for the dreamers & thinkers
• Book Sales in France
• National Book Awards Expand Eligibility to Non–U.S. Citizens
• Pulitzer Prize Rules Expanded Eligibility
• Akutagawa Prize winner credits ChatGPT for 5% of 'Sympathy Tower Tokyo' | Daily Sabah
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Cool Jazz Background (Trippy Trombone Version)" by Tencher Music

"Yes Or No" by Precarious Perch

“Jazzy Jingle V1” by bzur

“Little Duke” by Humans Win