Writing Break

By America's Editor

Whether you’re polishing your first draft or chasing down a book deal, the award-winning Writing Break will keep you informed, inspired, and ready to write. For access to all episodes, join the librar... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Writing Break:

How many episodes does Writing Break have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.

Writing Break episodes:

February 20, 2024Writing Advice from Neil Gaiman
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
...more
17min
February 06, 2024Writing and Publishing Tips (Clip Show #9)
Tune in for wall-to-wall writing and publishing tips for authors.
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal + Book Proposal Template | Jane Friedman
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks
...more
26min
January 23, 2024Writing a Good First Line
In the last episode we discussed what makes a good opening line in fiction, and in this episode we’re doing the same with nonfiction, some of which overlaps with fiction. I also share some examples of good opening lines from nonfiction.
Fit for the Throne: The Trial of Ten Kindle Edition by S. McPherson - Featured Author
Lost Books, Montrose, CA - Featured Bookstore
Big Five Domination of Adult Bestseller Lists Slipped in 2023
In Major Win, Appeals Court Upholds Block on Texas Book Rating Law
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
"California Blues" by Style da Kid
"Down to Get Up Again" by Humans Win
...more
16min
January 09, 20243 Questions to Ask About Your Opening Line
This week we begin a two-part series on writing memorable opening lines. Today we’re discussing fiction, and in the next episode we’ll be covering nonfiction.
Hay Festival Cartagena 2024
Ábaco, Cartagena, Colombia - Featured Bookstore
Public Domain Day 2024 | Duke University School of Law
Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Iowa Book Banning Law
The New York Times Complaint Against Microsoft and Open AI
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
“Colombian of Latin Music” by Gushito
“The Way You Move” by Sleeping Ghost
...more
13min
December 26, 2023Authors Behaving Badly
This final episode for 2023 is a short one but a juicy one. We are looking at corporations behaving badly, authors behaving badly, and readers behaving well. Because we know readers can do no wrong.
Cait Corrain Goodreads Controversy Explained
Author Apologizes After Review Bombing Books on Goodreads | TIME
The Bookseller - News - Tolkien estate wins two lawsuits against author of unauthorised Lord of the Rings sequel
TikTok's #BookTok trend 'literally changed my life'
Five years and 2m copies later, self-published author lands UK book deal | Crime fiction | The Guardian
Meta Used Copyrighted Books AI Training Despite Warning from Lawyers
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
"Atmospheric Auld Lang Syne" by Humans Win
"Stay Right There" by Humans Win
...more
10min
December 12, 2023New Book Trends on Amazon
In this holiday episode I share new book trends on Amazon, new publishing awards, and the latest publishing news.
First Year in Estonia Kindle Edition by Pynchon Woo - Featured Author
Rüütel & Matilda, Tallinn, Estonia - Featured Bookstore
The Paranormal Romance eBook Market
The Fantasy Romance Book Market
Screen Door Press - The University Press of Kentucky
The Yale Review | The Yale Nonfiction Book Prize
Penguin Random House, Authors Sue to Block Iowa Anti-LGBTQ Book Banning Law
Julian Sancton v. OpenAI Inc
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
"Dreaming of Christmas" by Boomer
"Christmas Happy Home Relaxing Atmosphere [Version 3 | 30 Sec]" by Volodymyr Piddubnyk
"Santa's New Suit" by Humans Win
...more
13min
November 28, 2023Examples of Foreshadowing
We are continuing our foreshadowing discussion today, and I might say something about genres that you will not like.
Depot Café and Bookstore, Mill Valley, CA - Featured Bookstore
Salt by Liz Shipton (Adult Version) - Featured Author
Salt Paperback (YA Edition) - Featured Author
57 Writing Contests in December
Workers at Two More B&N Stores Vote to Unionize
Circana BookScan: US Print Book Market 'Slowing a Bit'
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
“Morning Coffee Full Mix” by Bobby Cole
"Strawberry Daiquiri (instrumental)" by Sarah Angel
"Blow Off Some Steam" by Ben Bostick
"Sail Away" by zoze
...more
14min
November 14, 2023Foreshadowing Takes Finesse
We are beginning our discussion on foreshadowing today, in both fiction and nonfiction.
Amazon Sues Publishing Fraudsters
The 'Wall Street Journal' Drops Its Bestseller Lists
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
"Calm and Cozy: Lo-fi Vibes" by The Turquoise Moon
“Little Noir Night” by Humans Win
...more
10min
October 31, 2023Query Letters vs Book Proposals
Happy Halloween. In this episode, we’re talking about book proposals, how much writers make, and other such spooky things.
The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek by Abbie L. Martin - Featured Author
Hutchinson Public Library, Hutchinson, Kansas - Featured Library
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal + Book Proposal Template | Jane Friedman
Writing Books Remains a Tough Way to Make a Living
NEA Survey Finds Decline in Adult Reading
The Bookseller - News - HarperFiction launches crime imprint Hemlock Press
Authors sue Meta, Microsoft, Bloomberg in latest AI copyright clash | Reuters
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
“Creepy Halloween” by MoodMode
“Mystery of a Haunted Memory” by Jon Presstone
“Ghost Town” by Jayson Wayne Brown
“Through the Fields” by zoze
"My Dark Room" by Enzo Orefice
...more
15min
October 17, 2023Publishing Tips for Authors (Clip Show #8)
Let's review some of this season's publishing tips.
Free Style Sheet Templates
Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks:
“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory
...more
33min

FAQs about Writing Break:

How many episodes does Writing Break have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.