Today Mary and Melissa continue their segment featuring Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling. Way back in 2012 Director and Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats tweeted out 22 tips for storytelling, and since then they have gone viral and become an essential part of the writer's canon. Each week, we do a deep dive of one of the tips, tricks, and tools shared and discuss how we use them in our writing practice.

This week, #7: "Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front."

Resources:

Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling

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Today Mary and Melissa start a new segment featuring Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling. Way back in 2012 Director and Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats tweeted out 22 tips for storytelling, and since then they have gone viral and become an essential part of the writer's canon. Each week, we will do a deep dive of one of the tips, tricks, and tools shared and discuss how we use them in our writing practice.

First up, #11: "Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone."

Resources:

Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling

Hit us up on the socials, and let us know what you think! @writingeasypodcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

If you enjoyed the episode, give us a review. It helps other new and established writers find us.

Mary and Melissa are hitting the road and talking about cons (aka writing conventions). Find out where we are headed this summer, what cons are our favorites, and the pros and cons (pun intended) of going big or staying home. How do you find a con? What do you do to prepare? We’ve got tips to help writers at all stages of their career.

Plus this week’s quote reminds us how powerful an evocative description can be in your writing.

Resources: Here are a few of the genre based cons mentioned.

• San Diego Comic-Con – TV, Film, Media, Books, Comics, etc.

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Today we revisit our GOOOOAAAAALLLS conversation six months into the year. Often we obsess over hitting our goals and rarely pause to consider if we should still pursue those goals we set six months, one year, or even three years ago. In this episode, Melissa shares her challenge of letting go of a goal mid-year. And Mary talks about why she sets short-term weekly goals instead of yearly goals to satisfy her ADHD brain. Lastly, how do you avoid being flighty by changing your goals all the time?

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This week Mary and Melissa explore the concept of writer's critiques and debate their usefulness. We'll explore the standard way of giving feedback, discuss why it's not always so helpful, and brainstorm how we can make it better (one writer's group at a time). But first, a fun "Cold-Open". We give you a taste of our behind-the-scenes action. 

This week, Mary and Melissa get advice from Oprah. Then we dive into the topic of spending money.

Writers often struggle with investing in themselves because writing is inherently a low-cost activity. At its core, all you need is a pen and paper. Maybe a computer and an internet connection.

Resources

Final Draft

Writer's Duet

Moo Business Cards

Romance Writers of America

Writer's Conferences, Colonies, and Workshops

The Best MFA Program in the World

In Episode 8 we talked about when it's a good time to start a new project. Now we talk about how to get going.

"The most important thing in writing is to have written; I can fix a bad page. I can't fix a blank one." -Nora Roberts

• Pantsing vs. Plotting (vs. Plotzing)

References: 

Turns out the Chuck Wendig blog post was a Tweet:

https://twitter.com/ChuckWendig/status/601823878193745921

But you should read Terrible Minds, his blog, regardless. Here's a great example:

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2018/09/12/trust-in-the-process/

The Ezra Klein Show: I build a world with fantasy master N.K. Jemisin

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/the-ezra-klein-show/e/55964162

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Melissa shares some things she's learned about how to sell yourself when you're an introvert.

Quote of the Week:

"You begin by always expecting good things to happen." Tom Hopkins

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/tom_hopkins_183077

Other stuff:

• How not to get $300,000 6:10

References

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

(This book is a classic and really tells you everything you need on this topic)

Carole Kirschner - https://www.carolekirschner.com

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